Comparison of nine antigen detection kits for diagnosis of urogenital infections due to Chlamydia psittaci in koalas

Abstract

Chlamydia psiktaci is the major cause of infectious disease in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). It causes four disease syndromes in the koala, namely, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, cystitis, and infertility (females only). Diagnosis of chlamydial infections in koalas relies primarily on isolation of the organism in cell culture. Serology has generally not been useful, and little use has previously been made of the commercially available antigen detection kits. We examined the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of three direct fluorescentantibody kits (Vet-IF [Cell Labs], IMAGEN [Celltechl, Chlamydia-Direct IF [Bio Merieux]) and six antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Clearview [Unipathl, Surecell [Kodak], Pathfinder [Kallestad], Chlamydia-EIA [Pharmacia], Chlamydiazyme [Abbott], IDEIA [Celltech]) for the detection of urogenital infections in koalas. Laboratory studies showed that the direct fluorescent-antibody kits were the least sensitive in this case and did not detect fewer than 104 elementary bodies per ml, while most ELISA kits detected between 130 and 600 elementary bodies per ml. Field study results showed that the Clearview kit was the most sensitive (91%) compared with the IDEIA (88%) and the Surecell (73%) kits. All three kits were more sensitive than cell culture (36%), highlighting viability loss problems that occur during transport. This study showed that the Clearview kit is sensitive, specific, and easy to use for the detection of type II (urogenital) C. psittaci from koalas in the field and warrants further evaluation.

The prevalence of avian chlamydiosis (Chlamydophila psittaci) in Bosnia and Hezegovina

“…Using the same test Phong et al (1996) found positive results in 78.3% pigeons and 28.6% parrots. Results reported by Wood et al (1992) confirmed that CW is a simple, rapid and sensitive test for the detection of urogenital infection in koalas under field conditions with the highest sensitivity (91%) compared to other tests. Beller (1991) reported that the positive results of cloacal swabs obtained by IDEA and CW tests should be carefully estimated because of cross-reaction with gram-negative bacteria.…”

“…Using the same method the antigen was found in 10 of 11 urogenital swabs from infected koalas. Test sensitivity was 91% and specificity 86% (Wood et al, 1992).…”

“…Regarding that the monoclonal antibodies used in these tests are directed against a genus -specific epitope located on the chlamydial lipopolisaccharid, they are suitable for the detection of C. psittaci infection. According to literature data specified tests are used for C. psittaci antigen detection in turkeys (Vanrompay, 1994), pigeons, doves and parrots (Phong et al, 1996), migration birds (Schnebel, 2004) and koalas (Wood et al, 1992).…”

Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Feces of Budgerigars

“…In fact, isolation of the organism in embryonated eggs is more sensitive than isolation in cell culture (19). Direct antigen detection systems such as ELISA and IFA have been tested in clinical specimens and proved to be superior to cell culture when large numbers of C. psittaci particles are present (23). In persistently infected birds, very few chlamydiae can be detected in the feces.…”

“…The former two methods, although very time-consuming, are known to be more sensitive than the isolation of the organism in cell culture (5,19). Antigen-detection systems utilizing enzymelinked immunoassays or immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) techniques have been extensively introduced to detect chlamydial infections (1,6,8,21,23). New methods which detect chlamydial nucleic acid in specimens, such as DNA hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have recently been used for the detection of chlamydiae (2,13,14).…”