First Report of Chlamydia abortus in Farmed Fur Animals.

Zhaocai Li,Ping Liu,Krzysztof Niemczuk,Xiaoan Cao,Monika Szymańska-Czerwińska,Zhongzi Lou,Jizhang Zhou,Xue Bai,Bo Hu,Kinga Zaręba-Marchewka

doi:10.1155/2018/4289648

Abstract

Chlamydia (C.) abortus, a globally distributed obligate intracellular bacterium, has attracted increasing interest according to its veterinary importance and zoonotic nature. C. abortus can infect a variety of animals and cause foetal loss in livestock resulting in economic loss. In this study, the samples collected from two farms of foxes (n=20), raccoon dogs (n=15) and minks (n=20), were investigated by Chlamydiaceae- and Chlamydia species-specific real-time PCR. The results showed that all the tested foxes (20/20) and raccoon dogs (15/15) harbored Chlamydia spp., while 5% of minks (1/20) were positive for Chlamydia spp. C. abortus was identified in all positive samples as the dominant Chlamydia species, with C. pecorum DNA coexistence in some of the rectal samples (7/20) taken from foxes. Phylogenetic analysis based on specific gene fragments of 16S rRNA, IGS-23S rRNA, and ompA revealed that all sequences obtained in this study were assigned to the Chlamydiaceae family with high similarity to C. abortus S26/3 and B577 previously identified in ruminants. This is the first report confirming that farmed foxes, raccoon dogs, and minks carry C. abortus. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the epidemiology and pathogenicity of this pathogen in farmed fur animals as well as the potential risks to public health.

Highlights

Chlamydia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria widely distributed throughout the world and responsible for a variety of diseases in humans and animals
All Chlamydiaceae-positive samples were retested with specific real-time PCR assays to identify Chlamydia species including C. abortus, C. pecorum, C. psittaci, C. felis, and C. suis [17]
Further testing with species-specific real-time PCR identified the detected agent in all Chlamydiaceae positive samples as C. abortus

Summary

Introduction

Chlamydia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria widely distributed throughout the world and responsible for a variety of diseases in humans and animals. The wide distribution, broad-host infection, and zoonotic potential of C. abortus may exhibit an increasing but neglected risk to public health. There is an urgent need to investigate the presence of this zoonotic pathogen in animals closely related to humans and evaluate the potential health risk. Raccoon dogs, and minks are captive-bred wild animals raised as fur animals with substantial populations in northern Europe, northern America, and China [12]. These animals are suspected to be infected with a wide range of pathogens including several important zoonotic ones, such. A survey was conducted in China to acquire information concerning farmed fur animal species as possible reservoirs of Chlamydia spp

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions