Detection and characterization of Chlamydophila psittaci in asymptomatic feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in central Thailand

Ladawan Sariya; Phirom Prompiram; Siriporn Tangsudjai; Kanaporn Poltep; Tatiyanuch Chamsai; Chalisa Mongkolphan; Kamolphan Rattanavibul; Verachai Sakdajivachareon

doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60195-4

Detection and characterization of Chlamydophila psittaci in asymptomatic feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in central Thailand

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2015 Feb;8(2):94-7. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60195-4.

Authors

Ladawan Sariya¹, Phirom Prompiram², Siriporn Tangsudjai², Kanaporn Poltep², Tatiyanuch Chamsai², Chalisa Mongkolphan², Kamolphan Rattanavibul³, Verachai Sakdajivachareon³

Affiliations

¹ Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170. Electronic address: ladawan.sar@mahidol.ac.th.
² Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
³ Division of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand 10200.

PMID: 25902021
DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60195-4

Abstract

Objective: To detect and characterize Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) in asymptomatic feral pigeons in central Thailand.

Methods: A total 814 swabs from the trachea and cloacae of 407 non-clinical feral pigeons in central Thailand were collected and tested for the presence of C. psittaci.

Results: A 10.8% of feral pigeons in the sample group were positive as determined by nested PCR primer specific to C. psittaci. The outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of positive samples exhibited amino acid identity of C. psittaci ranging from 71 to 100% and were grouped in genotype B. Exceptionally, BF1676-56 isolate was closely related to Chlamydia avium with 99% identification of the 16S ribosomal (r) RNA gene.

Conclusions: This is the first report on C. psittaci isolated from asymptomatic feral pigeons in Thailand, which provides knowledge for the disease status in pigeon populations in Thailand.

Keywords: Chlamydophila psittaci; Feral pigeon; Psittacosis; ompA gene.