RESUMO
INTRODUCCIÓN: Chlamydophila psittaci es una bacteria zoonótica e intracelular estricta, que provoca la psitacosis humana y su principal hospedero son las aves psitácidas. La cotorra argentina es un ave psitácida nativa de Sudamérica y actualmente considerada una especie invasora en 19 países, incluyendo Chile. OBJETIVO: Determinar positividad contra C. psittaci en muestras de suero y torulados de cotorras argentinas de vida libre capturadas en la Región Metropolitana de Chile. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron 95 muestras de suero de pichones e individuos adultos de cotorras argentinas, a través de una prueba de ELISA indirecto utilizando un kit comercial. Posteriormente, se analizaron 40 tórulas nasotraqueales y cloacales de individuos adultos a través de una RPC en tiempo real específica para C. psittaci. RESULTADOS: Se detectaron anticuerpos en muestras de suero de cinco individuos adultos de cotorras argentinas (n = 68), mientras que ninguno de los pichones analizados fue seropositivo (n = 27). Todas las muestras analizadas a través de RPC en tiempo real fueron negativas. CONCLUSIÓN: Estos resultados demuestran por primera vez en Chile la exposición a C. psittaci en cotorras argentinas de vida libre, lo cual puede representar un riesgo importante para la transmisión de este patógeno a poblaciones humanas y animales.
BACKGROUND: Chlamydophila psittaci is a zoonotic obligate intracellular bacterium that causes the human psittacosis, and its main host are psittacine birds. The monk parakeet is a psittacine bird native to South America, currently being considered an invasive species in 19 countries, including Chile. AIM: To determine positivity to C. psittaci in serum samples and swabs from free-ranging monk parakeets captured in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. METHODS: Ninety-five serum samples from nestling chicks and adult monk parakeets were tested using an indirect ELISA test kit. Cloacal and nasotracheal swabs from 40 adult parakeets were further analyzed by C. psittaci-specific real-time PCR. RESULTS: We found antibody titers in sera of five adult monk parakeets (n = 68) while none of the nestlings were seropositive (n = 27). All samples tested with real-time PCR were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demónstrate for the first time in Chile the exposure to C. psittaci in free-ranging monk parakeets which may represent a significant risk of pathogen transmission to human and animal populations.
Assuntos
Animais , Psitacose/veterinária , Psitacose/epidemiologia , Periquitos/microbiologia , Chlamydophila psittaci/isolamento & purificação , Psitacose/sangue , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Zoonoses , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Chile , Área Urbana , Espécies Introduzidas , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo RealRESUMO
Pigeons (Columba livia) cohabit with humans in urban and rural areas, representing a public health problem since microorganisms are transmitted through the inhalation of dust from their dry feces (chlamydiosis) and through ingestion of their undercooked or poorly refrigerated meat (toxoplasmosis). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci and Toxoplasma gondii in pigeons from four cities in São Paulo State, Brazil. C. psittaci was evaluated through hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction (hnPCR) using cloacal and tracheal swabs, whereas T. gondii specific antibodies were assessed by means of modified agglutination test (MAT), mouse brain and muscle bioassay, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To confirm the infection in mice, T. gondii antibodies were assayed by using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Considering C. psittaci, 40/238 (16.8%; 95%CI 12.6-22.1%) samples were positive according to hnPCR, especially for the cities of São Paulo (42.5%) and Bauru (35%). As regards T. gondii, 12/238 (5%; 95%CI 2.9-8.6%) serum samples were positive according to MAT. Of these, five samples had titer equal to 1:8; six samples, 1:16; and one sample, 1:32. Bioassay, IFAT and PCR were negative for mouse toxoplasmosis. The absence of T. gondii antibodies suggests that pigeons may be infected with a low concentration of the agent, not detected by the antigen test. Thus, C. psittaci represents an actual problem concerning bird health.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Columbidae , Psitacose/epidemiologia , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Doenças das Aves/sangue , Doenças das Aves/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Chlamydophila psittaci , Camundongos , Psitacose/sangue , Toxoplasmose Animal/sangueRESUMO
Cross reactivity between Chlamydia psittaci and a strain from genus Acinetobacter was investigated by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) technique. Two groups of serum samples were tested: 64 belonged to patients diagnosed as psittacosis and 64 (control group) were non reactive to Chlamydia psittaci by IFA. Samples were incubated on smears prepared with an Acinetobacter suspension for detecting IgG and IgM. 100% reactivity to IgG was found in 1:16 serum dilution among anti-psittacosis sera, whereas 6.25% of control sera reacted at the same dilution. When testing IgM, high rates of reactivity were found in both serum groups, thus it has been discarded as a marker for cross reactivity. Fluorescence pattern suggests that antigens are located at the cell wall.