Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2013 Jun;13(6):382-4. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1131. Epub 2013 May 8.
Chlamydia psittaci is a zoonotic pathogen with a wide range of avian hosts and worldwide geographical spread. Zoonotic transfer occurs by inhalation or direct contact and may cause psittacosis or parrot disease. Host reservoirs of particular epidemiological interest include gregarious or migratory species, as colonial behavior facilitates microbial spread amongst conspecifics and a migratory ecology permits disperse over a wide geographic region. The current study detected C. psittaci antibodies in 76 of 81 (93.8%) feral Canada geese (Branta canadensis) using a species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Viable C. psittaci were isolated from pharyngeal swabs of 47 of 81 (58%) birds, and subsequent ompA-based genotyping revealed genotypes E, B, and E/B. Absence of clinical symptoms in these geese could reflect a strong natural protection or a persistent infection. Canada geese are considered an important alien species in Europe. Current results denote that this avian reservoir poses a considerable risk to native wildlife as a potential source of C. psittaci.
鹦鹉热衣原体是一种广泛分布于禽类宿主的人畜共患病病原体。人畜共患病的传播途径为吸入或直接接触，可能导致鹦鹉热或鹦鹉病。具有特殊流行病学意义的宿主储主包括群居或迁徙物种，因为群居行为促进了同种个体之间的微生物传播，而迁徙生态使它们可以分散在广泛的地理区域。本研究使用特异性酶联免疫吸附试验在 81 只野生加拿大鹅（Branta canadensis）中检测到 76 只（93.8%）具有鹦鹉热衣原体抗体。从 81 只鸟中的 47 只（58%）的咽拭子中分离出了活的鹦鹉热衣原体，随后基于 ompA 的基因分型显示了基因型 E、B 和 E/B。这些鹅没有临床症状，这可能反映了它们有很强的自然保护能力或持续感染。加拿大鹅被认为是欧洲的一种重要外来物种。目前的结果表明，这种禽类宿主是一种重要的病原体来源，对本地野生动物构成了相当大的风险。
