title: Chlamydiosis in British Garden Birds (2005-2011): retrospective diagnosis and Chlamydia psittaci genotype determination.
abstract: The significance of chlamydiosis as a cause of mortality in wild passerines (Order Passeriformes), and the role of these birds as a potential source of zoonotic Chlamydia psittaci infection, is unknown. We reviewed wild bird mortality incidents (2005-2011). Where species composition or post-mortem findings were indicative of chlamydiosis, we examined archived tissues for C. psittaci infection using PCR and ArrayTube Microarray assays. Twenty-one of 40 birds tested positive: 8 dunnocks (Prunella modularis), 7 great tits (Parus major), 3 blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), 2 collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto, Order Columbiformes), and 1 robin (Erithacus rubecula). Chlamydia psittaci genotype A was identified in all positive passerines and in a further three dunnocks and three robins diagnosed with chlamydiosis from a previous study. Two collared doves had genotype E. Ten of the 21 C. psittaci-positive birds identified in the current study had histological lesions consistent with chlamydiosis and co-localizing Chlamydia spp. antigens on immunohistochemistry. Our results indicate that chlamydiosis may be a more common disease of British passerines than was previously recognized. Wild passerines may be a source of C. psittaci zoonotic infection, and people should be advised to take appropriate hygiene precautions when handling bird feeders or wild birds.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK, katie.beckmann@ioz.ac.uk.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pocknell
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dagleish
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sachse
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pospischil
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046092:Columbiformes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology