title: Prevalence and diversity of Chlamydiales in Swiss ruminant farms.
abstract: Chlamydia and Chlamydia-related bacteria are known to infect various organisms and may cause a wide range of diseases, especially in ruminants. To gain insight into the prevalence of these bacteria in the ruminant environment, we applied a pan-Chlamydiales PCR followed by sequencing to 72 ruminant environmental samples from water, feed bunks and floors. Chlamydiales from four family-level lineages were detected indicating a high biodiversity of Chlamydiales in ruminant farms. Parachlamydiaceae were detected in all three types of environmental samples and was the most abundant family-level taxon (60%). In contrast, only one bacterium from each of the following family-level lineages was identified: Chlamydiaceae, Criblamydiaceae and Simkaniaceae. The observed high prevalence of Parachlamydiaceae in water samples may suggest water as the main source of contamination for ruminants as well as their environment due to spoilage. The absence of reported infections in the investigated ruminant farms might indicate that either detected Chlamydiales are of reduced pathogenicity or infective doses have not been reached.
authors: NeuroCenter, Division of Neurological Sciences, DCR-VPH, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Margaux
authors: M
authors: Dreyer
authors: Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Bugnon 48, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Aeby
authors: NeuroCenter, Division of Neurological Sciences, DCR-VPH, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Oevermann
authors: Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Bugnon 48, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland gilbert.greub@chuv.ch.
authors: Gilbert
authors: G
authors: Greub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002695:Chlamydiales / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012418:Ruminants; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: bovines; caprines; environment; ovines; pan-Chlamydiales PCR; sequencing