Chlamydophila psittaci genotype E/B transmission from African grey parrots to humans

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. 1097 - 1100
• Main Authors: Harkinezhad, Taher, Verminnen, Kristel, Van Droogenbroeck, Caroline, Vanrompay, Daisy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01.08.2007; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry; Animal Technicians; Animals; Bacteriology; Belgium - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bird Diseases - epidemiology; Bird Diseases - pathology; Bird Diseases - transmission; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - microbiology; Carrier State - transmission; Chlamydophila psittaci; Chlamydophila psittaci - classification; Chlamydophila psittaci - genetics; Chlamydophila psittaci - isolation & purification; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Transmission, Infectious; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Dyspnea - pathology; Feces - microbiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Nasal Mucosa - microbiology; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - microbiology; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Parrots - microbiology; Pharynx - microbiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Psittacosis - epidemiology; Psittacosis - pathology; Psittacosis - transmission; Psittacosis - veterinary; Species Specificity; Veterinarians; Belgium; Human; Chlamydiaceae; Transmission; Chlamydiales; Chlamydia psittaci; Bacteria; Genotype; African
• ISSN: 0022-2615; 1473-5644
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.47157-0

Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium Correspondence Daisy Vanrompay Daisy.Vanrompay{at}ugent.be Received 8 January 2007 Accepted 18 April 2007 Thirty-six birds from a parrot relief and breeding centre, as well as the manager, were examined for the presence of Chlamydophila psittaci . In the relief unit, 5 of 20 African grey parrots showed depression, ruffled feathers, loss of weight and mild dyspnoea. The birds received no antibiotic treatment. Birds of the breeding unit, 14 blue and gold macaws and 2 green-winged macaws, were healthy. They received doxycycline at the start of each breeding season. The manager complained of shortness of breath but took no medication. Using a nested PCR enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Cp. psittaci was detected in the faeces of all five sick birds, as well as in a nasal and pharyngeal swab from the manager. The veterinarian and her assistant became infected while sampling the parrots, as pharyngeal and nasal swabs from both were positive by nested PCR/EIA after visiting the parrot relief and breeding centre, but they showed no clinical signs of infection. Bacteria could be isolated from three of five nested PCR/EIA-positive birds, the manager and the veterinarian, but not from the veterinary assistant. Using an ompA genotype-specific real-time PCR, Cp. psittaci genotype E/B was identified as the transmitted strain. All breeding birds tested negative for Cp. psittaci . This is believed to be the first report on Cp. psittaci genotype E/B transmission from parrots to humans. In contradiction to genotype A strains, which are thought to be highly virulent to both birds and men, the currently described genotype E/B strain apparently caused no severe clinical symptoms in either parrots or humans. Abbreviations: EIA, enzyme immunoassay; MOMP, major outer membrane protein.