Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae spp. in a wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) population in Thuringia (Germany)

Abstract

Tissue samples from lungs, pulmonary lymph nodes, large intestine, and uteri of 14 wild boar bagged at a seasonal hunt were examined for the presence of chlamydiae, mycobacteria and mycoplasmas. Nested PCR detected chlamydial DNA in 57.1% of the animals, predominantly in the lung. DNA sequencing identified Chlamydophila psittaci as the predominant species, but Chlamydophila abortus and Chlamydia suis were also encountered. Immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections confirmed the presence of typical chlamydial inclusions in lungs and uteri. While the role of Chlamydiaceae as pathogens in wild boar has yet to be established, the present findings revealed a possible wildlife reservoir of these bacteria.