Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens
<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>, <i>Chlamydia gallinacea,</i> and <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> are the most common <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in chickens and have a confirmed or suggested zoonotic potential. No recent data are available on their prevalence and impact...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/193 |
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| author | Anne De Meyst Pieter De Clercq Jelmer Porrez Tom Geens Lutgart Braeckman Sander Ouburg Servaas A. Morré Daisy Vanrompay |
| author_facet | Anne De Meyst Pieter De Clercq Jelmer Porrez Tom Geens Lutgart Braeckman Sander Ouburg Servaas A. Morré Daisy Vanrompay |
| author_sort | Anne De Meyst |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>, <i>Chlamydia gallinacea,</i> and <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> are the most common <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in chickens and have a confirmed or suggested zoonotic potential. No recent data are available on their prevalence and impact in the Belgian chicken industry or in the recreational chicken branch. Therefore, a cross-sectional epidemiological study was executed where samples were collected from both factory-farmed and backyard chickens. More specifically, pharyngeal chicken swabs were obtained from 20 chicken farms, 5 chicken abattoirs, and 38 different backyard locations and were analyzed using species-specific Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) for the presence of the three avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. To investigate their zoonotic potential, samples were simultaneously collected from 54 backyard chicken caretakes and 37 professional chicken caretakers or abattoir employees and analyzed using species-specific PCRs as well. This study confirmed the presence of DNA of all three <i>Chlamydia</i> species in both the chicken industry and backyard settings. <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> was the most prevalent in the industry chickens (11.0%), whereas <i>Chlamydia gallinacea</i> was the dominant species in the backyard chickens (14.5%). <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> infections were more common in the commercial chickens (9.0%) compared to the backyard chickens (2.6%). The DNA of all three species was also detected in humans (3.9% <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>, 2.9% <i>Chlamydia gallinacea,</i> and 1.0% <i>Chlamydia abortus</i>). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:49:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-118dc6e2097740f2b187e6e67cbda365 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:49:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-118dc6e2097740f2b187e6e67cbda3652024-01-29T14:06:55ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-01-0112119310.3390/microorganisms12010193Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in ChickensAnne De Meyst0Pieter De Clercq1Jelmer Porrez2Tom Geens3Lutgart Braeckman4Sander Ouburg5Servaas A. Morré6Daisy Vanrompay7Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumResearch and Analytics, Liantis, 8200 Bruges, BelgiumDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumResearch & Development, Microbe&Lab BV, 1105 AG Amsterdam, The NetherlandsResearch & Development, Microbe&Lab BV, 1105 AG Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>, <i>Chlamydia gallinacea,</i> and <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> are the most common <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in chickens and have a confirmed or suggested zoonotic potential. No recent data are available on their prevalence and impact in the Belgian chicken industry or in the recreational chicken branch. Therefore, a cross-sectional epidemiological study was executed where samples were collected from both factory-farmed and backyard chickens. More specifically, pharyngeal chicken swabs were obtained from 20 chicken farms, 5 chicken abattoirs, and 38 different backyard locations and were analyzed using species-specific Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) for the presence of the three avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. To investigate their zoonotic potential, samples were simultaneously collected from 54 backyard chicken caretakes and 37 professional chicken caretakers or abattoir employees and analyzed using species-specific PCRs as well. This study confirmed the presence of DNA of all three <i>Chlamydia</i> species in both the chicken industry and backyard settings. <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> was the most prevalent in the industry chickens (11.0%), whereas <i>Chlamydia gallinacea</i> was the dominant species in the backyard chickens (14.5%). <i>Chlamydia abortus</i> infections were more common in the commercial chickens (9.0%) compared to the backyard chickens (2.6%). The DNA of all three species was also detected in humans (3.9% <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>, 2.9% <i>Chlamydia gallinacea,</i> and 1.0% <i>Chlamydia abortus</i>).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/193<i>Chlamydia</i>chickenzoonosispsittacosis<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i><i>Chlamydia gallinacea</i> |
| spellingShingle | Anne De Meyst Pieter De Clercq Jelmer Porrez Tom Geens Lutgart Braeckman Sander Ouburg Servaas A. Morré Daisy Vanrompay Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens Microorganisms <i>Chlamydia</i> chicken zoonosis psittacosis <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> <i>Chlamydia gallinacea</i> |
| title | Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens |
| title_full | Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens |
| title_fullStr | Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens |
| title_short | Belgian Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study on Zoonotic Avian <i>Chlamydia</i> spp. in Chickens |
| title_sort | belgian cross sectional epidemiological study on zoonotic avian i chlamydia i spp in chickens |
| topic | <i>Chlamydia</i> chicken zoonosis psittacosis <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> <i>Chlamydia gallinacea</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/193 |
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