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Title: IDENTIFICATION OF CHLAMYDOPHILA PNEUMONIAE IN AN EMERALD TREE BOA, CORALLUS CANINUS

Author
item JACOBSON, ELLIOTT - UNIV. OF FL, GAINESVILLE
item HEARD, DARRYL - UNIV. OF FL, GAINESVILLE
item ANDERSEN, ARTHUR

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2004
Publication Date: 10/8/2004
Citation: Jacobson, E.R., Heard, D., Andersen, A.A. 2004. Identification of chlamydophila pneumoniae in an emerald tree boa, corallus caninus. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. Vol. 16:153-154.

Interpretive Summary: Chlamydophila pneumoniae was identified in an emerald tree boa that had died from chlamydiosis. C. pneumoniae is thought to primarily infect humans; however, it has been recovered from a number of reptiles and other animals. In humans, C. pneumoniae is usually asymptomatic or mild, but it can cause a severe pneumonia. The organism tends to establish a systematic persistent infection and has been implicated in heart disease. The identification of the organism in emerald tree boas broadens the known range of reptiles that this organism can infect.

Technical Abstract: Multiple tissues were evaluated from dead emerald tree boas, Corallus caninus, that were from a collection where chlamydiosis was diagnosed. To determine the strain of chlamydia infecting these snakes, tissue samples from 5 frozen snakes were tested by a TaqMan PCR test and a PCR-sequence analysis test. Of 22 samples tested, 0 were categorized as either positive or weakly positive with the TaqMan test and 6 yielded an amplicon using a serial PCR test that amplified a portion of the 23s rRNA gene. A PCR product suitable for sequencing was obtained from the heart tissue of one of the snakes. Sequence analysis showed that the snake had been infected with Chlamydiophila pneumonia. These findings show that C. pneumoniae can infect emerald tree boas and broaden the host range of reptiles known to be infected with this primarily human pathogen.