Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and cell culture for the detection of Chlamydophila species in the semen of bulls,buffalo-bulls,and rams

Two hundred and thirty six semen samples were collected from 120 bulls, 60 buffalo-bulls, and 56 rams located on farms of known history of infection with Chlamydophila species. All semen samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cell culture techniques for detection of Chlamydophila species. The primers were selected to allow the amplification of all target species in a single reaction by identifying conserved sequences in the omp2 gene. PCR assay detected more positive samples (36) from the semen samples collected from different animal species than were detected by the culture method (21). The results indicated that all culture-positive semen samples (21) from different species were PCR positive. The detection limit of the PCR assay was determined with DNA extracted from fourfold serial dilution of C. abortus (B577) and C. pecorum (11/88) cultures and found to be 0.25 inclusion-forming units (IFU) per PCR, while the culture method could not detect less than 4 IFU. This is the first report using PCR for the detection of Chlamydophila species in buffalo-bulls' semen and the assay provides a simple, sensitive, rapid, and reliable means for the detection and identification of the organism.     

Detection of Chlamydophila abortus in sheep and goat flocks in southern Italy by PCR using four different primer sets

An epidemiological survey was performed to detect the presence of Chlamydophila (C.) abortus and other members of the order Chlamydiales in ovine and caprine flocks with a history of abortion in southern Italy. Four pairs of primers were compared to evaluate their ability to detect Chlamydiales using purified DNA preparations and tissue samples from aborted foetuses with suspected chlamydial infections. As expected, amplification of DNA of the reference strain C. abortus using primer pairs U23F/23Sigr, 16SF2/23R, CTU/CTL and CpsiA/CpsiB produced fragments of about 600 bp, 585 bp, 1000 bp and 300 bp, respectively. The detection limits of the four PCR tests performed on serial DNA dilutions of the C. abortus reference strain were of 10 pg, 0.1 pg, 0.1 pg and 1 fg of DNA, respectively. The most sensitive amplification of DNA extracted from the organ tissues was obtained with primer pairs CpsiA/CpsiB, which detected Chlamydophila spp. DNA in all infected tissue samples. Only C. abortus was identified during the survey. The presence of this agent was confirmed in 3 out of 27 ovine and caprine flocks included in the survey suggesting that abortion due to C. abortus is uncommon in southern Italy.     

Field evaluation of a new commercially available ELISA based on a recombinant antigen for diagnosing Chlamydophila abortus (Chlamydia psittaci serotype 1) infection

A new commercially available ELISA (ELISAr-Chlamydia) for detecting antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus has been evaluated using sheep field serum samples. The ELISA is based on a recombinant antigen which expresses part of a protein from the 80-90kDa family that is specific to C. abortus. Sera (105) from six flocks with confirmed ovine chlamydial abortion (OEA) outbreaks were used in this study, as well as sera (258) from 18 flocks which had suffered no OEA in the last lambing. The ELISAr-Chlamydia was compared with the complement fixation test (CFT) and with an ELISA using purified C. abortus elementary bodies (ELISA-EB), employing as reference technique a comparative microimmunofluorescence test that differentiates C. abortus infection from Chlamydophila pecorum infection. The results showed that the sensitivity of ELISAr-Chlamydia was 90.9% with a specificity of 85.9%, the sensitivity of CFT was 71.0% with a specificity of 83.6%, while the sensitivity of ELISA-EB was 95.2% and the specificity was 54.2%. Furthermore, ELISAr-Chlamydia was the test with fewer false positives resulting from positive reactivity to C. pecorum, although 15% of the sera positive for C. pecorum but negative for C. abortus antibodies reacted positively. This study demonstrated with field material that ELISAr-Chlamydia provides the most balanced results between sensitivity and specificity, especially in flocks with no clinical OEA but reactivity to C. abortus.     

Comparative evaluation of eight serological assays for diagnosing Chlamydophila abortus infection in sheep

Chlamydophila abortus is one of the principal causes of late-term abortion (enzootic abortion of ewes or EAE) in sheep across Europe. Serological diagnosis of EAE is routinely carried out by the complement fixation test, although the interpretation of results can often be difficult because of cross reaction with Chlamydophila pecorum, which also commonly infects sheep. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare four ELISAs developed at Moredun Research Institute and based on whole C. abortus elementary bodies (EBs), an outer membrane preparation of the whole organism (SolPr) and two recombinant polymorphic outer membrane protein fragments (rOMP90-3 and rOMP90-4), with 3 commercial tests, the CHEKIT Chlamydophila Abortus, Pourquier ELISA Chlamydophila abortus and ImmunoComb Ovine Chlamydophila Antibody tests. The tests were evaluated using a panel of 202 sera from experimentally and naturally infected animals, as well as from EAE-free flocks. The EB, SolPr and CHEKIT ELISAs performed similarly to the CFT, all lacking in specificity by cross reacting with sera from C. pecorum infected animals. The ImmunoComb also lacked specificity with C. pecorum sera, but also badly cross reacted with sera from EAE-free flocks. The rOMP90-3, rOMP90-4 and Pourquier ELISAs were the most specific, although the Pourquier test appeared less sensitive with sera from naturally infected animals. Overall, the rOMP90-3 ELISA performed the best, with high sensitivity (96.8%) and no cross reaction with sera from C. pecorum infected animals or from EAE-free flocks (100% specificity) and so would be a suitable alternative to the CFT for the serological diagnosis of EAE.     

Role of Chlamydophila abortus in ovine and caprine abortion in Sardinia, Italy

Between 1999-2003, 14321 sera and 646 abortion samples (498 foetuses and 148 placentae) were analysed from 807 sheep and goat farms distributed all over the island of Sardinia. After notification of abortion in a flock, sera collected at random from adult animals were examined to detect antibodies specific to Chlamydophila (C.) abortus by ELISA, whereas foetuses and placenta were analysed by PCR assay. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 611 (4.8%) sheep and 106 (5.8%) goats. From a total of 2050 ovine and 151 caprine fetal samples including muscle, liver, abomasum, spleen, brain and placenta, 29 (1.4%) ovine and 1 (0.6%) caprine samples were C. abortus PCR-positive. Placenta was the tissue with the highest detection rate. These results indicate that the seroprevalence of C. abortus infection in sheep and goats is very low in Sardinia, and PCR results demonstrate that C. abortus has no significant role in abortion, especially in goats.     

Improved sensitivity of PCR for Chlamydophila using pmp genes.

Primers targeting the conserved pmp gene family of Chlamydophila abortus were evaluated for their ability to improve the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sensitivity. In purified DNA, specific pmp primers (named CpsiA and CpsiB) allowed at least a 10-fold increase of the PCR sensitivity compared to the specific ompA primers for C. abortus, but also for C. psittaci and C. caviae strains. No amplification was observed on C. felis, C. pecorum, C. pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis strains. Tested on contaminated specimens such as genital swabs, the PCR sensitivity observed with CpsiA/CpsiB was also better than with the ompA primers. This study demonstrated that these specific pmp primers could serve as valuable, sensitive and common tools for a specific Chlamydophila diagnosis in ruminant, avian and human diseases. Digestion by AluI of the CpsiA/CpsiB fragments allowed a specific discrimination of the strains in function of their hosts and/or their serotypes.     

Detection of Chlamydophila psittaci by using SYBR green real-time PCR

Chlamydophila psittaci is the causative agent of human psittacosis and avian chlamydiosis. This zoonotic pathogen is frequently transmitted from infected birds to humans. Therefore proper and rapid detection of C. psittaci in birds is important to control this disease. We developed a method for detecting C. psittaci by using SYBR Green Real-time PCR based on targeting the cysteine-rich protein gene (envB) of C. psittaci. This one step procedure was highly sensitive and rapid for detection and quantification of C. psittaci from fecal samples. This assay was also able to detect other zoonotic Chlamydophila species such as C. abortus and C. felis. The assay is well suited for use as a routine detection method in veterinary medicine.     

Identification of Chlamydophila abortus and the development of lesions in placental tissues of experimentally infected sheep

Chlamydophila (C.) abortus is a major cause of infectious abortion in sheep in many countries. Twenty-one pregnant sheep were experimentally infected intranasally with C. abortus at 70 days of gestation (dg). Thereafter, a number of animals were killed at weekly intervals and a post-mortem examination was carried out. Evidence of chlamydial infection in the placenta was determined by isolation of the bacterium by tissue culture and detection of C. abortus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). In addition, histopathological changes in the placenta were assessed, as was the detection of chlamydial antigen by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Evidence of placental infection was observed as early as 2 weeks after inoculation, and while only relatively low numbers of bacteria were isolated by culture and/or detected by real-time PCR prior to 113-114dg, at 119-121dg, it was more numerous. This study, using the four criteria for assessment of infection, showed that while C. abortus gained access to the placenta as early as 85dg, characteristic histopathological changes were not apparent until 119/121dg. While the chronology of when the bacterium arrived in the placenta and subsequent lesion development is remarkable for its consistency this paper provides more reliable data on the former which in turn now allows study of the factors that permit its access to this tissue and govern its multiplication and the ensuing triggering of damage.     

Brucella abortus detection by PCR assay in blood, milk and lymph tissue of serologically positive cows

Brucellosis is a highly infectious disease which is diagnosed using serological and microbiological methods. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of using conventional and real-time PCR assays as potential diagnostic tools for the detection of Brucella abortus in naturally infected cows. PCR assays that amplify various regions of the Brucella genome, IS711 genetic element, 31kDa outer membrane protein and 16S rRNA, were optimised using nine known Brucella strains. Real-time PCR was used to examine the detection efficiency of the IS711 assay which was estimated at 10 gene copies. Milk, blood and lymph tissue samples were collected from naturally infected animals. B. abortus was not detected in blood samples collected from naturally infected cows by conventional or real-time PCR, but was detected in a proportion of the culture-positive milk (44%) and lymph tissue (66% - retropharyngeal, 75% - supramammary) samples by the same methods. There was no difference between PCR and bacteriological detection methods. It is unlikely that conventional or real-time PCR will supersede current diagnostic methods for detection of B. abortus in clinical samples.     

A pmp genes-based PCR as a valuable tool for the diagnosis of avian chlamydiosis

In a previous study we described the use of a new set of PCR primers (CpsiA/CpsiB) specific of the conserved pmp-family genes of Chlamydophila abortus as an efficient tool for the detection of these bacteria in ruminants including also preliminary results on avian strains. In this work, the use of this set of primers was extended to representative strains of the six major avian serovars (serovars A-F) and to field isolates of C. psittaci. For all the studied representative strains, using purified genomic DNA as a template, CpsiA/CpsiB primers allowed, as observed for C. abortus, a minimal 10-fold PCR signal increase compared to the one observed with ompA specific primers. In comparison to primers targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer, similar or increased sensitivity was observed depending on the strain. All the field isolates were amplified with CpsiA/CpsiB primers. On clinical samples, our primers are the best among those tested for detection of C. psittaci by simple conventional PCR. RFLP experiments performed using PCR fragments amplified with the CpsiA/CpsiB primers gave promising results demonstrating that these primers may provide an interesting tool for molecular typing when the bacterium cannot be grown from pathological samples.     

Molecular detection of Chlamydophila abortus in post-abortion sheep at oestrus and subsequent lambing

Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE), resulting from infection with the bacterium Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus), is a major cause of lamb loss in Europe. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential impact of the shedding of organisms in post-abortion ewes at oestrus and subsequent lambing on the epidemiology of EAE. Using a newly developed C. abortus specific real-time PCR assay, few chlamydial genomes could be detected in vaginal swabs taken from post-abortion ewes at oestrus. At subsequent parturition, all ewes lambed normally with no macroscopic or microbiological evidence of infection. Real-time PCR analysis of placental samples identified very few or no chlamydial genomes, which contrasted significantly with samples taken at the time of abortion, where an average of 2.7x10(7) chlamydial genomes per microgram of total tissue DNA was detected. Few genomes could also be detected from vaginal and cervical tissue samples and lymph nodes taken post-mortem. The results, although not discounting the possibility of a chronic low level persistent infection in post-abortion ewes, suggest that the low levels of chlamydial DNA detected during the periovulation period and at lambing do not significantly impact on the epidemiology of EAE. In terms of flock management, the products of abortion should be considered the major and principal source of infection for transmission to na?ve ewes.     

Evaluation of the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, an improved version of the Brucella AMOS polymerase chain reaction assay for cattle.

In a blind test, 344 samples representing 80 bacterial isolates were analyzed by the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction (BaSS PCR) assay for the identification and discrimination of B. abortus field strains (wild-type biovars 1, 2, and 4) from 1) B. abortus vaccine strains, 2) other Brucella species, and 3) non-Brucella bacteria. Identical samples were tested in 2 laboratories. Half the samples were fully viable, and half were bacteria that had been killed by methanol fixation. The results in 1 laboratory correctly identified 100% of the samples, resulting in a predictive value of 100% for all categories and 100% sensitivity and specificity under the prescribed conditions. The second laboratory misidentified 31 samples, resulting in a range of 66.7-100% sensitivity, 93.2-99.7% specificity, and 77.3-98.2% predictive values depending on the category. There was no significant difference in viable versus fixed bacteria for either laboratory. Subsequent review of the protocol indicated that contamination was the likely cause of 26 of the 31 erroneous identifications. The results show that the BaSS PCR assay has the potential to be a very reliable screening tool for B. abortus identification. However, the data also provide a cautionary reminder of the importance of preventing contamination in diagnostic PCR.     

Detection of Brucella species in the milk of infected cattle,sheep, goats and camels by PCR

One hundred and three milk samples were collected from 52 cows, 21 ewes, 18 goats and 12 camels. The animals tested positive to at least one of the following: (1) standard tube agglutination test (SAT); (2) Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT); (3) milk ring test (MRT). All milk samples were examined by culture and single-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for detection of Brucella species. The PCR assay amplified Brucella-DNA from 29 bovine milk samples, 10 from sheep, 13 from goats and one from a camel. The direct culture method detected Brucella organisms from 24 samples of cows' milk, 12 from sheep, 10 from goats and failed to detect any Brucella organisms from camels' milk. PCR detected up to 100 colony forming units (CFU) of B. abortus per millilitre of milk in 100% of diluted milk samples, and 1000 CFU of B. melitensis from 70% of milk samples. Although the overall sensitivity of the PCR was higher than the culture method, it should be possible to increase the sensitivity to detect lower numbers of Brucella organisms in field samples. The speed and sensitivity of the PCR assay suggest that this technique could be useful for detection of Brucella organisms in bovine milk, as well as in sheep, goat, and camels milk.     

鉴别猪伪狂犬病病毒gE基因缺失疫苗和野毒感染的二重PCR诊断方法的建立和应用

为建立猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)gE基因缺失疫苗和野毒感染的快速鉴别诊断方法,本研究根据猪伪狂犬病野毒具有gD表面抗原基因和gE毒力基因,而基因缺失疫苗只有gD基因无gE基因的特性,针对gD/gE基因的5'端核苷酸序列自行设计引物,建立鉴别PRV gE基因缺失疫苗和野毒感染的二重PCR诊断方法,并进行了特异性、敏感性和重复性试验;利用所建立的检测方法对临床疑似样品进行了检测.结果表明,成功建立了鉴别PRV gE基因缺失疫苗和野毒感染的二重PCR诊断方法,该方法灵敏度高,最低检出限为100拷贝/μL;重复性好;特异性强,可特异性地扩增出PRV细胞毒中的gD和gE基因及gE基因缺失疫苗毒中的gD基因,但对PK-15细胞和猪流行性腹泻病毒等其他8种病原扩增不出任何条带;自835份临床疑似PRV感染病料中共检测出PRV gD和gE基因双阳性样品即野毒感染阳性样品267份,PRV gD基因单阳性样品28份,选取该方法检测出的26份PRV野毒感染阳性样品用于病原分离培养,两种方法的符合率为96.1%.说明本试验建立的二重PCR鉴别诊断方法快速、灵敏、特异,对于临床上疫苗毒和野毒感染的快速鉴别诊断具有重要意义.     

Comparison of an indirect ELISA with the Brucella milk ring test for detection of antibodies to Brucella abortus in bulk milk samples.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Brucella abortus antibodies in bovine bulk milk samples was evaluated. About 31 individual milk samples from B. abortus infected cows were diluted into bulk milk from a brucellosis free herd. Individual milk samples obtained from 96 negative or positive herds to ELISA or Brucella ring test (BRT), were tested by ELISA. All positive cows were bled and serum samples were tested by the complement-fixation test (CFT) which was considered the definitive test. A herd was considered infected if at least, one cow was positive in the CFT. Four samples were negative in the BRT at the dilution 1:10 but positive in the ELISA. For samples positive in both tests, BRT titers ranged from 1:10 to 1:480 while ELISA titers ranged from 1:10 to 1:3200.Using bulk milk samples, the sensitivity of the ELISA (98.1%) was higher than the BRT (72.2%) but the specificity of BRT (90.5%) was not statistically different (P=1.0) from the ELISA (88.1%). The implications of the results for brucellosis control are discussed.     

Identification of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in an emerald tree boa, Corallus caninus.

Tissues were evaluated from emerald tree boas, Corallus caninus, from a collection in which chlamydiosis was diagnosed. To determine the strain of chlamydia infecting these snakes, tissue samples from 5 frozen snakes were tested by a quantitative TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and a PCR sequence analysis test. Of the 22 samples tested, 9 were categorized as either positive or weakly positive with the TaqMan test, and 6 yielded an amplicon using a serial PCR test that amplified a portion of the 23S ribosomal RNA gene. A PCR product suitable for sequencing was obtained from the heart of one of the snakes. Sequence analysis showed that the snake had been infected with Chlamydophila pneumoniae. These findings show that C. pneumoniae can infect emerald tree boas, broadening the range of reptiles known to be infected by this primarily human pathogen.     

贵州省山羊流产的病原学鉴定

为了解贵州省山羊流产与山羊痘的相关性,采用琼脂扩散试验和PCR法对本省10个市(县)流产羊群的血清和病料样本进行山羊痘抗原抗体及病原核酸检测,同时血清进行布氏杆菌抗体检测,流产胎儿病料进行羊流产亲衣原体病原核酸检测。结果发现山羊痘羊群流产率达37.1%(4329/11660),山羊痘血清抗体阳性率为38.2%(34/89),抗原阳性率为72.7%(32/44),流产胎儿山羊痘病毒核酸检出率为83.3%(10/12),发病羊群未检出布氏杆菌和羊流产亲衣原体感染。结果表明,山羊流产与山羊痘感染有一定关系,提示在山羊养殖中应加强饲养管理,防止山羊痘感染引起孕羊流产。     

Molecular characterisation and ovine live vaccine 1B evaluation toward a Chlamydophila abortus strain isolated from springbok antelope abortion

Chlamydiosis is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. The reservoir of susceptible hosts is large and includes birds and both domestic and wild mammals. Chlamydial infection, determined serologically, seems to be widespread among wild ruminants in the Paris zoo (France). In February 2003, an abortion case was reported within the springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) herd of the zoo. PCR assay using primers targeting the polymorph membrane protein gene (pmp) family was performed on both vaginal swab and placenta samples revealing the presence of Chlamydophila. The inoculation into chicken embryos of an infected placenta extract led to the successful isolation of a C. abortus strain referred to as ASb1. The omp1 gene coding the major outer membrane protein (momp) and the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region of ASb1 were compared to those of various strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The RFLP analysis showed that this isolate belonged to Chlamydophila abortus species and is highly related to known domestic ruminant's strains causing abortion. The efficacy of a live vaccine 1B, based on a temperature-sensitive mutant of the ovine abortion reference strain AB7, was tested. Protection-challenge experiments in a mouse model show that the ASb1 strain led to mice abortions and that vaccination with 1B vaccine provided them with effective protection.     

Detection of pathogens in ovine and caprine abortion samples from Sardinia, Italy, by PCR.

During 2003-2005, 399 abortion samples (315 fetuses and 84 placentae) were collected from 107 ovine and caprine farms in northern Sardinia. Tissues from aborted fetuses and placentae were examined by PCR assay to detect DNA from Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydophila abortus, Salmonella enterica Serovar abortusovis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum. The DNA from at least 1 of these 5 infectious agents was amplified in 41% of ovine fetuses, while only 17% of the caprine fetuses yielded a positive amplification result for at least 1 of the 5 agents. Out of a total of 366 ovine aborted samples, T. gondii DNA was detected most frequently (18.1% of fetuses and 13.1% of placentae), followed by S. abortusovis (13% of fetuses and 14.4% of placentae), C. burnetii (10.9% of fetuses, of 9.2% placentae), C. abortus (2.4% of fetuses, 6.5% of placentae), and N. caninum (2% of placentae). In 33 fetuses and 9 placentae, the simultaneous presence of pathogens with different associations was detected. Out of a total of 31 caprine aborted samples, T. gondii was detected most frequently (13% of fetuses and 25% of placentae), followed by C. abortus (12.5% of placentae), C. burnetii (12.5% of placentae), and N. caninum (8.6%).     

Recombinant major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydophila abortus, Chlamydophila pecorum, and Chlamydia suis as antigens to distinguish chlamydial species-specific antibodies in animal sera

Recombinant major outer membrane proteins (rMOMP) of Chlamydophila (Ch.) abortus, Ch. pecorum, and Chlamydia (C.) suis were used as antigens to distinguish chlamydial species-specific antibodies in (i) immune sera from six rabbits and three pigs raised against native purified elementary bodies, (ii) serum samples from 25 sows vaccinated with Ch. abortus, and (iii) 40 serum samples from four heifers experimentally infected with Ch. abortus. All post-exposition sera contained chlamydial antibodies as confirmed by strong ELISA seroreactivities against the chlamydial LPS. For the rMOMP ELISA mean IgG antibody levels were at least 5.8-fold higher with the particular rMOMP homologous to the chlamydial species used for immunisation or infection than with heterologous rMOMPs (P <0.001). Preferential rMOMP ELISA reactivities of sera were confirmed by Western blotting. The results suggest that the entire chlamydial rMOMP could provide a species-specific serodiagnostic antigen.