title: Chlamydophila psittaci genotype E/B transmission from African grey parrots to humans.
abstract: Thirty-six birds from a parrot relief and breeding centre, as well as the manager, were examined for the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci. In the relief unit, 5 of 20 African grey parrots showed depression, ruffled feathers, loss of weight and mild dyspnoea. The birds received no antibiotic treatment. Birds of the breeding unit, 14 blue and gold macaws and 2 green-winged macaws, were healthy. They received doxycycline at the start of each breeding season. The manager complained of shortness of breath but took no medication. Using a nested PCR enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Cp. psittaci was detected in the faeces of all five sick birds, as well as in a nasal and pharyngeal swab from the manager. The veterinarian and her assistant became infected while sampling the parrots, as pharyngeal and nasal swabs from both were positive by nested PCR/EIA after visiting the parrot relief and breeding centre, but they showed no clinical signs of infection. Bacteria could be isolated from three of five nested PCR/EIA-positive birds, the manager and the veterinarian, but not from the veterinary assistant. Using an ompA genotype-specific real-time PCR, Cp. psittaci genotype E/B was identified as the transmitted strain. All breeding birds tested negative for Cp. psittaci. This is believed to be the first report on Cp. psittaci genotype E/B transmission from parrots to humans. In contradiction to genotype A strains, which are thought to be highly virulent to both birds and men, the currently described genotype E/B strain apparently caused no severe clinical symptoms in either parrots or humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harkinezhad
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verminnen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Droogenbroeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanrompay
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D017750:Animal Technicians; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000473:pathology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010311:Parrots / Q000382:microbiology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity; D018634:Veterinarians
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial