avian & livestock assay data sheet
Chlamydophila
(formerly
Chlamydia)
psittaci
(aka "Psittacosis" or "Chlamydiosis")
NOTE: THIS TEST IS NOT PERFORMED
ON SAMPLES TAKEN FROM BIRDS OWNED OR LOCATED IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA.
Test code:
B0034
-
Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Chlamydophila psittaci by real time PCR.
B0034 is
included in the psittacine PCR
screening panel
(See
test
code B0111 for detection of other Chlamydia/Chlamydophila
species)
Chlamydophila psittaci
is one of the most prevalent infections in aviculture; species
of this genus can also infect other animals,
including ruminants and other mammals,
as well as humans.
Outbreaks of psittacosis can quickly spread through an entire
aviary, flock or
herd, with devastating results. Young birds are
especially susceptible to the infection and can become chronic
carriers, shedding the bacteria. Long-term effects of chlamydial
infections can be multi-systemic, including afflictions such as
liver disease.
C.
psittaci
infection is a major clinical problem in exotic birds. Infected
birds develop symptoms ranging from acute devastating disease to
poor feathering. Only a small percentage of infected exotic
birds show overt clinical symptoms. Carriers without clinical
signs may also be suffering from chronic low-grade hepatopathies.
Estimates of carrier rate vary among research reports. In exotic
birds, infection rates are said to vary from 10-90% overall,
with infection rates approaching 100% in some closely held
collections.
Some
carriers may remain in that state for years with few or no
clinical problems. These birds are contagious to cage-mates and
also to humans. People who are immunosuppressed, due to factors
such as AIDS and cancer treatment, are especially susceptible to
C. psittaci
zoonosis.
Serological
diagnostic methods are available for
C. psittaci, but a
significant number of ill and healthy carrier birds do not
produce measurable antibody. This especially true of cockatiels,
budgerigars, and young parrots. Detection by culture is
difficult, expensive and slow. However, molecular detection of
C. psittaci by
PCR is rapid, specific and highly sensitive. PCR can also be
used to test fecal samples, which are not suitable for serology
assay.
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of C. psittaci
infection
-
Help ensure that bird populations are free of
C. psittaci
-
Early prevention of spread of this bacterium among a
flock
-
Minimize human exposure to
C. psittaci
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from birds
Specimen requirements:
Cloacal swab,
or 0.2 ml feces, or 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected