Isolation and Characterization of Chlamydophila psittaci Isolated from Laying Hens with Cystic Oviducts

Abstract

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify a hypothetical Chlamydiaceae pathogen from laying hens with an oviduct cyst, and to characterize its potential causal relation with decreased egg production. Our clinical survey showed that cystic oviducts were prevalent at rates of 10% and 15.1% in breeder and commercial hen flocks, respectively. Chlamydial antigens were detected in 20 of 50 pharyngeal swabs (40%) and in 17 of 20 oviduct tissues (85%) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen detection kits. The isolated pathogen was identified as Chlamydophila psittaci via complement fixation test, PCE-ELISA, and immunofluorescence assay. Avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus were excluded after oviduct tissues were inoculated onto the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonating eggs. The nucleotide sequence of the omp1 gene (accession no. EF202608) from the isolate was similar to that of C. psittaci avian type C (accession no. L25436). Typical cystic oviducts were observed in specific-pathogen-free hens inoculated intraperitoneally with the isolate. The high presence of chlamydial antigen is consistent with the cystic oviducts and poor egg production. We conclude that the isolated C psittaci is most likely associated with cystic oviducts in laying hens.

Mixed infection by fowlpox virus and Chlamydophila psittaci in a commercial laying hen flock

“…Additional alarming signs are trembling, imbalanced gait or emaciation. In particular, hypofunction of the ovaries and poor egg production observed in the study can be linked to infection by this second pathogen (Zhang et al, 2008).…”

“…The exact mechanism of synergism between bacteria and viruses in the course of co-infection is not known, and various explanations have been proposed. Among them, suppression of the host defence mechanisms, initiation of tissue damage, altered production of inflammatory mediators, modifying organspecific defence mechanisms and encouraging bacterial adherence and growth are the most plausible (Zhang et al, 2008). Hament et al (1999) …”

“…Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci), a member of the family Chlamydiaceae, is an obligate intracellular bacterium pathogenic for humans and animals (Suwa and Itakura, 1992;Beatty et al, 1994;Zhang et al, 2008). It is responsible for respiratory, digestive or systemic infection in birds and can also persist for a very long time in host cells under disadvantageous conditions (Hogan et al, 2004;Andersen and Vanrompay, 2008).…”

Chlamydophila psittaci Zoonotic Risk Assessment in a Chicken and Turkey Slaughterhouse

“…Less is known about the C. psittaci genotypes in chickens. Until now, only genotypes B, E/B, and C have been detected in chickens (5,23,32). This is the first time that genotype D has been identified in chickens.…”

Longitudinal monitoring for respiratory pathogens in broiler chickens reveals co-infection of Chlamydia psittaci and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale

“…Ever since applying NAATs, C. psittaci has been detected more often in chickens. Virulent C. psittaci strains were detected by NAATs, and isolated from diseased chickens raised in Australia, Belgium, China, France and Germany (Gaede et al, 2008;Zhang et al, 2008;Laroucau et al, 2009;Robertson et al, 2010;Zhou et al, 2010;Yin et al, 2013a). Recently, C. psittaci was detected in a Belgian chicken slaughterhouse and in a Belgian chicken hatchery.…”