Abstract
BackgroundAs the importance of chlamydial infections in pigs has become more obvious, a rapid and sensitive method to study the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in pig herds is required. Such a method should permit routine diagnostic tests for herds with clinical and subclinical infections, without the need for Chlamydia culture.ResultsThe main objective of this study was to develop a specific and rapid method for detecting C. suis in swine herds. A real-time PCR assay using a single locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing probe specific for C. suis was developed based on the previously described 28S rDNA fragment used to identify Chlamydiales. Use of LNA nucleotides enabled the single probe to target a short, specific fragment of the 23S rRNA. The probe showed high specificity for C. suis and did not show any cross-reactivity with other Chlamydia or Chlamydophila species nor with swine DNA. All of the 86 tested field isolates, earlier identified as C. suis, were confirmed as positive using the newly developed assay.ConclusionsUsing single LNA-based C. suis-specific probe allowed rapid and simple identification of this pathogen without requiring sequencing analysis and culturing. The proposed method may be used to study the prevalence of C. suis infection in pig herds and as a routine diagnostic test for herds with clinical and subclinical infection.
Highlights
As the importance of chlamydial infections in pigs has become more obvious, a rapid and sensitive method to study the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in pig herds is required
Chlamydia suis, Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydophila pecorum infections have been identified in pigs
Using a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing probe, in this study, we evaluated a real-time PCR assay specific for C. suis
Summary
As the importance of chlamydial infections in pigs has become more obvious, a rapid and sensitive method to study the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in pig herds is required. Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila psittaci and Chlamydophila pecorum infections have been identified in pigs. Chlamydial infections have been implicated in a wide spectrum of clinical disorders, including reproductive disorders, ocular and respiratory problems (e.g. conjunctivitis and pneumonia), enteritis, pleuritis, and polyarthritis [4]. The use of intensive pig production systems might increase the risk of chlamydial disease in pigs [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
