title: Detection and characterization of Chlamydophila psittaci in asymptomatic feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in central Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect and characterize Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) in asymptomatic feral pigeons in central Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 814 swabs from the trachea and cloacae of 407 non-clinical feral pigeons in central Thailand were collected and tested for the presence of C. psittaci.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 10.8% of feral pigeons in the sample group were positive as determined by nested PCR primer specific to C. psittaci. The outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of positive samples exhibited amino acid identity of C. psittaci ranging from 71 to 100% and were grouped in genotype B. Exceptionally, BF1676-56 isolate was closely related to Chlamydia avium with 99% identification of the 16S ribosomal (r) RNA gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report on C. psittaci isolated from asymptomatic feral pigeons in Thailand, which provides knowledge for the disease status in pigeon populations in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170. Electronic address: ladawan.sar@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Ladawan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sariya
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
authors.forename: Phirom
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prompiram
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tangsudjai
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
authors.forename: Kanaporn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poltep
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
authors.forename: Tatiyanuch
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chamsai
authors.affiliation: Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73170.
authors.forename: Chalisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mongkolphan
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand 10200.
authors.forename: Kamolphan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rattanavibul
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Health, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand 10200.
authors.forename: Verachai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sakdajivachareon
keywords: Chlamydophila psittaci; Feral pigeon; Psittacosis; ompA gene