title: Detection of CHLAMYDIA PSITTACI in feral pigeons (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA) in Slovakia and their characterisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chlamydia psittaci, an obligate intracellular bacterium, which is the etiologic agent of avian chlamydiosis in birds and ornithosis/psittacosis in humans, has been reported to be one of the most common pathogens found in feral pigeons worldwide, and thus constitutes a zoonotic risk. The aim of the study was to investigate pigeons in Slovakia living in areas in close proximity to humans for the presence of C. psittaci, using pharyngeal and cloacal swabs.
  
  
  METHODS
  122 clinically healthy pigeons from different geographical regions of Slovakia were examined for the presence of C. psittaci. The adult pigeons of both genders were captured during the summer period in the urban centres of Slovakian towns. Each sample was examined by molecular method PCR, and in the case of positive result the identity of the obtained sequence was examined by a BLAST search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total number of 244 examined samples, 14 (5.7%) showed positivity for C. psittaci infection, 5 of which were from pharyngeal swabs (4.1%) and 9 from cloacal swabs (7.4%). A positive result was detected in 13 pigeons (10.7%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the positive samples are genetically very close to genotypes B and genotype E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phylogenetic examination of the 14 isolates of C. psittaci identified in the presented study, based on 23S rRNA gene sequence, revealed their close relationship with C. psittaci genotypes B and E. Both genotypes are predominantly prevalent in pigeons and both can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to perform screening examinations of animals and analyse the epidemiological factors affecting the way of transmission and circulation of pathogen.
authors.affiliation: P. J. Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Čechová
authors.affiliation: P. J. Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halánová
authors.affiliation: P. J. Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kalinová
authors.affiliation: P. J. Šafárik University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Lýdia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Čisláková
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Parasitology, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halán
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Biology and Genetics, Košice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenčáková
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002988:Cloaca / Q000382:microbiology; D010856:Columbidae; D005838:Genotype; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S