title: Evidence of zoonotic Chlamydophila psittaci transmission in a population at risk in Zulia state, Venezuela.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at investigating the frequency of infection by Cp. psittaci and determining its genotype in individuals at potential risk of exposure to the bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 170 individuals: a risk group (n= 96) and a low-risk control group (n=74). Cp. psittaci was detected and genotyped by single-tube nested PCR and ompA gene sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight (8.3 %) positive cases were detected in the risk group and 1 (1.4 %) in the control group (p<0.04). Cp. psittaci was found in 16.7 % of pigeons' fecal samples. Cp. psittaci infection with was more frequent in symptomatic (17.7 %) than asymptomatic (6.3 %) individuals in the risk group. Analysing the genomes isolated from human and bird specimens revealed the presence of genotype B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of Cp. psittaci genotype B in the population being evaluated could have been attributed to zoonotic transmission from pigeons to humans, an underestimated potential public health problem in Venezuela requiring the health authorities' involvement.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Research Center for Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela. narraiz1@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nailet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arraiz
authors.forename: Valmore
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.forename: Baldimiro
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Urdaneta
authors.forename: Endrina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mujica
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mejía
authors.forename: Carem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escalona
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mujica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012306:Risk; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial