Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) caviae is a known pathogen in guinea pigs, causing conjunctivitis, respiratory infections and abortions. Recently, a C. caviae-induced zoonotic link was identified as the etiology of severe community-acquired pneumonia in humans. Here, 784 conjunctival and rectal swabs originating from 260 guinea pigs and 110 rabbits from 64 husbandries in Switzerland, as well as 200 composite conjunctival swabs originating from 878 guinea pigs from 37 husbandries in The Netherlands were examined by real-time PCR followed by conventional PCR and sequencing. Chlamydiaceae were detected in 2.3% (18/784) and 12.5% (25/200) of all Swiss and Dutch samples, respectively. An overall C. caviae occurrence was detected in 2.7% (7/260) and 8.9% (78/878) of all Swiss and Dutch guinea pigs, respectively. OmpA genotyping of 64 C. caviae-positive samples resulted in 33 sequences sharing 100% nucleotide identity with the strains isolated from the zoonotic transmission cases in The Netherlands. However, all ompA sequences of this study were distinct from the C. caviae GPIC reference strain. C. caviae was not detected in rabbits but C. psittaci genotype A was identified in guinea pigs and rabbits, raising concerns about the importance of these animal species as novel zoonotic sources for C. psittaci.
Highlights
The Chlamydiaceae family is composed of one single genus, Chlamydia (C.)
Infections can range from asymptomatic to systemic, with clinical signs such as conjunctivitis (GPIC, guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis), purulent ocular discharge, chemosis, rhinitis, pneumonia, ascending genital tract inflammation and abortions [1]
Eight samples originating from seven Chlamydiaceae-positive guinea pigs across two different husbandries could be further identified as C. caviae, resulting in a total Swiss C. caviae positivity of 2.7% (7/260 guinea pigs)
Summary
The Chlamydiaceae family is composed of one single genus, Chlamydia (C.). This genus includes fourteen different species and several Candidatus species of Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria with a biphasic life cycle [1]. For C. caviae, the main host is the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) It was first isolated by Murray in 1964 from the conjunctiva of an infected young laboratory guinea pig [3]. Lutz-Wohlgroth et al showed a 48% (59/123) prevalence for C. caviae in guinea pigs from Switzerland, with 81% (48/59) of those exhibiting clinical signs [6]. These numbers were based on a prevalence study across animals presented with ocular signs at the Ophthalmology Unit of the Department for small animals at the University of Zurich, leading to an estimated prevalence within a diseased (sub)population, likely overestimating the actual prevalence of the pathogen. Information regarding C. caviae prevalence in healthy guinea pig populations remains scarce, despite their importance as popular companion animals, especially for children
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