Isolation and characterisation of local strains of Chlamydophila abortus (Chlamydia psittaci serotype 1) from Tunisia

Abstract

-Chlamydiosis is one of the major diseases that can lead to abortion in ewes. Since 1997, in 5 regions of Tunisia, Chlamydia-related abortions have been reported in 15 sheep and goat flocks. One hundred and sixty-six sera and 50 vaginal swab samples were collected from adult ewes. Chlamydial antigens were detected in 29 (58%) of the vaginal swabs using Enzyme Linked Immunsorbent Assay (ELISA) while 9 (18%) were positive by cell culture. Five strains were recovered from 4 different sheep flocks. Monoclonal antibody profiles and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region showed that these isolates were C. abortus. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), these Tunisian strains were shown to exhibit the same pattern as strains isolated in France.Chlamydiosis / diagnosis / Tunisia / isolation / characterisation Résumé -Isolement et typage de souches locales de Chlamydophila abortus (Chlamydia psittaci sérotype 1). La chlamydiose est une des principales cause d'avortements infectieux en Tunisie. Lors de la période d'agnelage de 1997, 166 prises de sang et 50 écouvillons vaginaux ont été prélevés dans 15 troupeaux répartis sur 5 gouvernorats et ayant eu des problèmes d'avortements. Des chlamydia ont été mises en évidence dans 29 (58 %) écouvillons vaginaux appartenant à 13 troupeaux différents par ELISA directement sur l'écouvillon vaginal et 9 (18 %) après multiplication sur cellules. Cinq souches tunisiennes appartenant à 4 troupeaux différents ont ainsi pu être isolées. Leur caractérisation par une panoplie d'anticorps monoclonaux et par étude du profil de restriction de l'espace intergé-nique 16S-23S a démontré qu'elles appartenaient toutes à l'espèce Chlamydophila abortus. Par 215 Vet. Res. 33 (2002) 215-222

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors ofChlamydia abortusInfection in Tibetan Sheep in Gansu Province, Northwest China

“…C. abortus usually causes ulceration of endometrial epithelium resulting in placental infection if infection was acquired during the early stages of that pregnancy. More typically, infection acquired during late gestation will result in abortion in the following gestation and the symptoms caused by C. abortus also include epididymitis, pneumonia, arthritis, and conjunctivitis [7–9]. Recent reports described the presence of C. abortus DNA in the eyes of ewes [10, 11].…”

In Silico Functional Elucidation of Uncharacterized Proteins of Chlamydia Abortus Strain LLG

“…The pathogen causes enzootic abortion, vesiculitis, orchitis and epididimytis in cattle [3]. When zoonotic, it causes conjunctivitis, health pathologies and abortion in sheep and goats [4–6], yaks [7], pig [8], cats [9], stray and companion animals [10]. The pathogen can be zoonotic spreading infection in humans.…”

Validation of a PCR Assay for Chlamydophila abortus rRNA gene detection in a murine model

“…Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) is associated with reproductive failures in cattle, sheep, and goats and occasionally in pigs and horses (Everett, 2000). Epizootic abortion of cattle and enzootic abortion of goats and sheep are the most important clinical manifestations and have been reported worldwide (Griffiths et al, 1995;Rodolakis et al, 1998;Rekiki et al, 2002;Szeredi and Bacsadi, 2002). C. abortus infections have also been reported in abortion observed in laboratory animals (mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits), although the virulence of the particular strain is fundamental to the development of clinical signs (Buendía et al, 1999;Everett, 2000).…”