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Title: SEROTYPING OF UNITED STATES ISOLATES OF CHLAMYDOPHILA PSITTACI FROM DOMESTIC AND WILD BIRDS

Author
item Andersen, Arthur

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2005
Publication Date: 9/1/2005
Citation: Andersen, A.A. 2005. Serotyping of United States isolates of Chlamydophila psittaci from domestic and wild birds. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 17(5):479-482.

Interpretive Summary: Chlamydial isolates from pet birds, domestic poultry, and wild birds were serotyped to determine whether there was a relationship between the species of the bird and the serotype of the isolate. The microimmunofluorescence test was used with a panel of serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies to serotype 150 isolates. Ninety-three of the 96 isolates from parrots, parakeets, cockatiels and other psittacine birds were of serovar A. The pigeon isolates were either serovar A (79%) or serovar E (21%). All of the rhea and ostrich isolates were of serovar E, and from birds that had died from the chlamydial infection. Turkey isolates were from several serovars, but the highly virulent turkey isolates were serovar D. The 3 isolates from hawks failed to react with any of the monoclonal antibodies and are presumed to represent a new serovar. These results demonstrate host-serovar relationships and show that some chlamydial strains are particularly virulent for specific species of birds.

Technical Abstract: The identity of chlamydial strains that can infect a given host are important to know for disease prognosis, disease control, and epidemiology. The microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test was used with a panel of 14 serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies to serotype 150 chlamydial isolates from domestic and wild birds. The isolates were obtained from birds submitted to diagnostic laboratories or during investigation of outbreaks. The 150 USA isolates included 96 from the order Psittaciformes, 14 isolates from the order Columbiformes, 2 from the order Passeriformes, 16 from the order Galliformes, 12 from the order Struthioniformes, and 3 from the order Falconiformes. Ninety-three or 97% of the Psittaciformes isolates were of Serovar A; 11 or 79% of the Columbiformes isolates were of serovar B; 64% of the Galliformes isolates were of serovar D, and all of the Struthioniformes isolates were of serovar E. The 3 Falconiformes isolates did not react with any of the MABS to the avian and mammal isolates and are presumed to represent a new strain. The results show that specific chlamydial strains are usually associated with certain types of birds, and that some serovars may be unusually virulent for certain species of birds. The MIF test using serovar-specific MABS provides a rapid method to serotype new isolates, making it a useful system for epidemiological studies.