Evaluation of bioaerosol sampling techniques for the detection of Chlamydophila psittaci in contaminated air.
Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci, a category B bioterrorism agent, causes respiratory disease in birds and psittacosis or parrot fever in man. The disease spreads aerogenically and no vaccines are available for either birds or man. Highly sensitive C. psittaci bioaerosol monitoring methods are unavailable. We evaluated: (1) dry filtration for collecting C. psittaci from contaminated air using different samplers and membrane filters, (2) impingement into different liquid collection media by use of the AGI-30 impinger and the BioSampler and (3) impaction into newly designed C. psittaci media utilizing the MAS-100 aerosol impactor. For personal bioaerosol sampling, we recommend the use of a gelatin filter in combination with the IOM inhalable dust sampler at an airflow rate of 2L/min. This allowed the detection of 10 organisms of C. psittaci by both PCR and culture. For stationary bioaerosol monitoring, sampling 1000L of air in 10min with the MAS-100 impactor and ChlamyTrap 1 impaction medium was most efficient and made it possible to detect 1 and 10 C. psittaci organisms by PCR and culture, respectively. ChlamyTrap 1 in combination with the MAS-100 impactor might also be applicable for bioaerosol monitoring of viruses.
Van Droogenbroeck
Caroline
C
Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Caroline.VanDroogenbroeck@UGent.be
Van Risseghem
Marleen
M
Braeckman
Lutgart
L
Vanrompay
Daisy
D
D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000392:Air Movements; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D000336:Aerosols