1. Chlamydia buteonis in birds of prey presented to California wildlife rehabilitation facilities.
- Author
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Seibert BA, Keel MK, Kelly TR, Nilsen RA, Ciembor P, Pesti D, Gregory CR, Ritchie BW, and Hawkins MG
- Subjects
- Animals, Animals, Wild, Antibodies, Bacterial blood, Bird Diseases immunology, Bird Diseases microbiology, California epidemiology, Chlamydia classification, Chlamydia genetics, Chlamydia immunology, Chlamydia Infections immunology, Chlamydia Infections microbiology, Cloaca microbiology, DNA, Bacterial chemistry, DNA, Bacterial genetics, DNA, Bacterial metabolism, Immunoglobulin M blood, Immunoglobulins blood, Phylogeny, Prevalence, Rehabilitation Centers, Risk Factors, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Bird Diseases epidemiology, Chlamydia isolation & purification, Chlamydia Infections epidemiology, Raptors microbiology
- Abstract
Chlamydial infections, caused by a group of obligate, intracellular, gram-negative bacteria, have health implications for animals and humans. Due to their highly infectious nature and zoonotic potential, staff at wildlife rehabilitation centers should be educated on the clinical manifestations, prevalence, and risk factors associated with Chlamydia spp. infections in raptors. The objectives of this study were to document the prevalence of chlamydial DNA shedding and anti-chlamydial antibodies in raptors admitted to five wildlife rehabilitation centers in California over a one-year period. Chlamydial prevalence was estimated in raptors for each center and potential risk factors associated with infection were evaluated, including location, species, season, and age class. Plasma samples and conjunctiva/choana/cloaca swabs were collected for serology and qPCR from a subset of 263 birds of prey, representing 18 species. Serologic assays identified both anti-C. buteonis IgM and anti-chlamydial IgY antibodies. Chlamydial DNA and anti-chlamydial antibodies were detected in 4.18% (11/263) and 3.14% (6/191) of patients, respectively. Chamydial DNA was identified in raptors from the families Accipitridae and Strigidae while anti-C.buteonis IgM was identified in birds identified in Accipitridae, Falconidae, Strigidae, and Cathartidae. Two of the chlamydial DNA positive birds (one Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni) and one red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)) were necropsied, and tissues were collected for culture. Sequencing of the cultured elementary bodies revealed a chlamydial DNA sequence with 99.97% average nucleotide identity to the recently described Chlamydia buteonis. Spatial clusters of seropositive raptors and raptors positive for chlamydial DNA were detected in northern California. Infections were most prevalent during the winter season. Furthermore, while the proportion of raptors testing positive for chlamydial DNA was similar across age classes, seroprevalence was highest in adults. This study questions the current knowledge on C. buteonis host range and highlights the importance of further studies to evaluate the diversity and epidemiology of Chlamydia spp. infecting raptor populations., Competing Interests: Dr. Branson Ritchie is the Director of the Infectious Disease Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Univ. of GA, Athens, GA and contributed in-kind support by providing the EBA serology, qPCR testing and whole genome sequencing for this project.
- Published
- 2021
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