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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73806
Title: SEROTYPING OF C. PSITTACI ISOLATES FROM RATITES

Author
item ANDERSEN, ARTHUR
item GRIMES, JAMES - TX A&M U., COLL. STATION
item SHIVAPRASAD, H. - U. OF CA-DAVIS, FRESNO

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Chlamydiosis is a bacterial disease that occurs in most birds and mammals. There are over 50 strains of chlamydia that can cause the disease. The host range and the reservoir of infection for many of these strains are still not known. Chlamydia was isolated from a number of rheas and ostriches dying from chlamydiosis. It was determined by PCR-RFLP and serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies that the deaths were from chlamydia psittaci serovar E. This strain is known to cause disease in humans, pigeons, and turkeys. The production of rheas and ostriches for meat is a new industry in the United States that has potential to diversify our agricultural base. Knowing the strains of chlamydia that can infect these birds is important for the development of control methods or vaccines. Also, it is important to know the strains that infect rheas and octriches since these birds have the potential to serve as a source of chlamydia for birds and humans.

Technical Abstract: Chlamydia has been isolated from a number of rheas and ostriches dying from chlamydiosis. The strain of chlamydia and its origin have never been identified. Eleven isolates from the southwestern United States which were collected over a period of 2 years were tested with monoclonal antibodies and by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine the serovar. The isolates were all of the avian serovar E. This indicates that ratites are either particularly susceptible to serovar E or that they are the primary serovar in nature.