Evaluation of the Kodak SureCell™ Chlamydia Test Kit in Companion Birds

Abstract

The Kodak SureCelFM Chlamydia Test Kit was evaluated for the detection of Chlamydia psittaci in 33 companion birds. Tissues from 20 of the birds were submitted for chlamydia culture. Ten of the 33 cases hadpositive chlamydia tests. When compared with the culture results, the chlamydia test had a specificity of 80% and a sensitivity of 100%. The test is easy to perform, rapid and can readily be used in the avian practitioner's clinic or in a referral laboratory. C hlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci) is a major concern in companion birds because of its presence in a wide variety of avian and domestic animal species, its considerable variation in clinical presentation including carrier states (Fig. 1), its significant economic impact on the companion bird industry, and its zoonotic potential.13 In addition, chlamydiosis is a legal concern with respect to consumer protection, occupational disease and veterinary liability.4'5 Historically, confirming chlamydiosis has been difficult. A positive diagnosis requires demonstration of chlamydiae in stained tissues, smears or scrapings, or isolation of the organism from affected birds.6'7 Other available diagnostic tests include various serological assays,8 direct fluorescent antibody test,9'10 the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique,11 and PCR amplification of portions of the genome.12 All of these procedures require sophisticated laboratory equipment, operator expertise and, especially in the case of serological tests, are sometimes difficult to interpret. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) also has been used as an antigen/antibody test, but these procedures often are not readily adaptable to clinic use due to technical and/or equipment requirements.318 The Kodak SureCell Chlamydia Test Kit,a which is a selfcontained, monoclonal, antibody-based, membrane antigen capture EIA designed for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis-specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen in humans (Fig. 2), was evaluated for the detection of Chlamydia psittaci in dead companion birds. The test takes approxiFig. 1. The presence of chlamydia may be diagnosed in birds that are clinically normal. mately 25 minutes, can easily be performed in a practitioner's clinic, requires no special equipment, and features built-in quality control verification for each patient sample.