title: Chlamydia psittaci in birds of prey, Sweden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia psittaci is an intracellular bacterium primarily causing respiratory diseases in birds but may also be transmitted to other animals, including humans. The prevalence of the pathogen in wild birds in Sweden is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted from cloacae swabs and screened for C. psittaci by using a 23S rRNA gene PCR assay. Partial 16S rRNA and ompA gene fragments were sequence determined and phylogenies were analysed by the neighbour-joining method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C. psittaci prevalence was 1.3% in 319 Peregrine Falcons and White-tailed Sea Eagles, vulnerable top-predators in Sweden. 16S rRNA and ompA gene analysis showed that novel Chlamydia species, as well as novel C. psittaci strains, are to be found among wild birds.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Linus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christerson
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Helander
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunnarsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olsen