2023-05-09 09:24:11
Avian chlamydiosis is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia bacteria. The tests now available distinguish Chlamydia species based on genetic material. Researchers at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research have developed a test that, based on antibodies present in the blood of animals, can determine which Chlamydia species the animal is or was infected with.
Chlamydia bacteria are gram-negative, intracellular bacteria. The bacterial genus currently has 14 species, each with its own preferred host. A number of these species can not only cause disease in their preferred hosts, but also have zoonotic potential. Chlamydia psittaci has been found in hundreds of bird species, including poultry. This bacteria can cause a severe form of pneumonia in humans known as parrot disease.
Chlamydia gallinacea and Chlamydia psittaci can infect birds, but both species differ in epidemiology and zoonotic potential. It is therefore important to have diagnostic tools that enable detection and differentiation between species in poultry. The available tests are based on molecular methods. These tests only provide information about the current infection status of animals, and only work if there are sufficient bacteria present in the samples taken.
Researchers from Wageningen Bioveterinary Research investigated whether it is possible to develop a test for poultry for the detection of antibodies against Chlamydia species. To enable differential serology, a suspension array was designed, with peptides as antigens. The suspension array can identify antibodies against 4 different Chlamydia species in mouse sera. The test is also able to distinguish between antibodies against Chlamydia gallinacea and Chlamydia psittaci in chicken sera.
Since the reactivity of chicken sera was not the same as that of mice, chicken sera signals from the field were difficult to interpret. This is because there were not enough well-characterized chicken sera to evaluate the seroreactivity of the peptides. Nevertheless, the field sera test results agree with published data on the occurrence of Chlamydia gallinacea in Dutch laying hens. With this, the researchers have demonstrated that the concept of the developed serological test works.
More information can be found in the publication ‘Proof of concept for multiplex detection of antibodies against Chlamydia species in chicken serum using a bead-based suspension array with peptides as antigens‘ in Veterinary Research.
Copyright ©2023 AgriHolland B.V.
#Antibody #detection #Chlamydia #species #chicken #serum