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. 2022 Aug 31;10(9):1758.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10091758.

Prevalence of New and Established Avian Chlamydial Species in Humans and Their Psittacine Pet Birds in Belgium

Anne De Meyst  1 , Rachid Aaziz  2 , Joachim Pex  1 , Lutgart Braeckman  3 , Morag Livingstone  4 , David Longbottom  4 , Karine Laroucau  2 , Daisy Vanrompay  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of New and Established Avian Chlamydial Species in Humans and Their Psittacine Pet Birds in Belgium

Anne De Meyst et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

The presence and zoonotic transfer of four different avian Chlamydia spp. was assessed in an epidemiological study in a psittacine bird population and its owners. Fecal swabs from 84 pet birds and pharyngeal swabs from 22 bird owners were collected from 21 locations in Flanders. Samples were examined using established and novel PCR platforms combined with culture on PCR-positive samples. Chlamydiaceae DNA was detected in 33 of 84 (39.3%) birds. The predominant part of the avian infections could be attributed to C. psittaci (22 of 84; 26.2%), followed by C. avium (11 of 84; 13.1%). C. gallinacea and C. abortus were not detected in birds or humans. C. psittaci was the only species detected in pet bird owners (4 of 22; 18.2%), stressing its zoonotic importance. This study showed that C. psittaci and the more recently discovered novel avian species C. avium are undoubtedly present in the Flemish psittacine bird population. Our results justify additional research in a larger psittacine bird population and its owners, focusing on C. psittaci and C. avium. In the meantime, increased awareness among pet bird owners and the implementation of preventive measures in the pet bird industry is advised to limit the circulation of established and novel emerging avian chlamydial species.

Keywords: Chlamydia avium; Chlamydia psittaci; animal chlamydiosis; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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