Detection and molecular characterization of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus in psittacine pet birds in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Abstract

In order to determine the presence and genetic diversity of Chlamydia spp. in thenorth-eastern area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, conjunctival, oropharyngeal, cloacalswab and tissues were collected from a total of 90 psittacine pet birds of different age and clinicalmanifestations. Through molecular methods, Chlamydiaceae was detected in 30% (27/90)of the samples, out of which 70.3% (19/27) were positive for Chlamydia psittaci and 14.9%(4/27) for Chlamydia abortus. Nine C. psittaci positive samples were genotyped by ompA genesequences, 8 clustered within genotype A and 1 within genotype B. A significant associationwas observed between the presence of Chlamydia spp. and the manifestation of clinical signscompatible with chlamydiosis, as well as with the age of the birds (younger than one year old).This report contributes to the improvement of our understanding of chlamydial agents in our country