title: Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae, Mycoplasma conjunctivae, and pestiviruses in Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) of Grisons, Switzerland.
abstract: Because interactions between livestock and chamois occur on Alpine pastures, transmission of infectious diseases is considered possible. Thus, the occurrence of Chlamydiaceae, Mycoplasma conjunctivae, and pestiviruses in Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) of the Surselva region (eastern Swiss Alps) was investigated. In total, 71 sera, 158 eye swabs, 135 tissue samples, and 23 fecal samples from 85 chamois were analyzed. The sera were tested by 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits specific for Chlamydophila abortus. Eye swabs, tissue, and fecal samples were examined by a Chlamydiaceae-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive cases were further investigated by microarray method. One serum sample (1.4%) was positive in 1 of the ELISAs. Eye swabs of 3 chamois (3.8%) were positive for Chlamydiaceae. The microarray method revealed the presence of Chlamydophila abortus, C. pecorum, and C. pneumoniae. All tissue and fecal samples were negative. With real-time PCR, 3.9% of the chamois tested positive for Mycoplasma conjunctivae. One chamois had a simultaneous infection with M. conjunctivae and 2 chlamydial species (C. abortus, C. pecorum). Skin and tongue tissue samples of 35 chamois were negative for pestivirus antigen by immunohistochemistry. It was concluded that in contrast to the findings in Pyrenean chamois (Capra p. pyrenaica) of Spain, the occurrence of Chlamydiaceae in Alpine chamois of the Surselva region is low, and the transmission between domestic and wild Caprinae seems not to be frequent. Comparably, persistent pestiviral infections do not seem to be common in chamois of the Surselva region.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holzwarth
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pospischil
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mavrot
authors.forename: Edy M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vilei
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilbe
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zlinszky
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Regenscheit
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pewsner
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002693:Chlamydiaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D045684:Mycoplasma conjunctivae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010576:Pestivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018182:Pestivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D048608:Rupicapra / Q000382:microbiology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral