The prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci and Alignment Analysis of Major Outer Membrane Protein Gene in Taiwan between 2009 and 2011

• Main Authors: Szu-Yu Liu, 劉思妤
• Other Authors: 沈瑞鴻
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/80527246749164242442

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 獸醫學系暨研究所 === 100 === Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci), an obligate intracellular bacterium which causes avian chlamydosis in 467 avian species and 30 orders, can be divided into nine genotypes (A to F, E/B, M56, and WC) according to its outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene. A number of reports have demonstrated that humans can be infected C. psittaci via contacting infected psittacine pet birds, pigeons, and domestic waterfowls. Therefore, the current prevalence status of C. psittaci in birds in Taiwan is critical for public health. In the current study, we investigated the prevalence of C. psittaci in domestic waterfowls, psittacine birds, columbidae birds and non-psittacine birds in Taiwan. The positive rate of C. psittaci in domestic waterfowls was 12.7% (146/1148) in 2010. In psittacine birds, 3.1% (16/514) of samples were positive for C. psittaci between January 2010 and June 2011. In columbidae birds and non-psittacine birds, the positive rates of C. psittaci were 10.1% (8/79) and 2.2% (14/650), respectively. Genotype A was detected in 9 psittacine birds, and genotype B were detected in 4 columbidae birds. However, the phylogenetic analysis of partial ompA gene from 18 domestic waterfowl strains revealed that there were two atypical genotype clusters outside the currently recognized genotypes of C. psittaci. Furthermore, two atypical strains of Chlamydiaceae were detected by ompA variable domain I (VDI) sequence analysis from one Gorsachius melanolophus and one Megalaima nuchalis. To sum up, the results indicated that C. psittaci-infected psittacine birds and columbidae birds may be a potential risk factor for transmitting the disease from pet birds and pigeons to humans. Further studies need to be done for the pathogenesis of these atypical Chlamydiaceae in different avian species and the investigation of their capability to cause public health issue.