
Bacteria of the family Chlamydiaceae are globally disseminated and able to infect many bird species. So far, 11 species of Chlamydia have been detected in wild birds, and several studies found chlamydial strains classified as genetically intermediate between Chlamydia (C.) psittaci and C.abortus. Recently, a group of these intermediate strains was shown to form a separate species, i.e., C.buteonis. In the present study, 1128 samples from 341 raptors of 16 bird species and 253 corvids representing six species were examined using a stepwise diagnostic approach. Chlamydiaceae DNA was detected in 23.7% of the corvids and 5.9% of the raptors. In corvids, the most frequently detected Chlamydia species was C.psittaci of outer membrane protein A (ompA) genotype 1V, which is known to have a host preference for corvids. The most frequently detected ompA genotype in raptors was M56. Furthermore, one of the raptors harbored C.psittaci 1V, and two others carried genotype A. C.buteonis was not detected in the bird population investigated, so it remains unknown whether this species occurs in Switzerland. The infection rate of Chlamydiaceae in corvids was high compared to rates reported in other wild bird species, but neither Chlamydiaceae-positive corvids nor raptors showed overt signs of disease. Since the Chlamydiaceae of both, raptors and crows were identified as C.psittaci and all C.psittaci genotypes are considered to be zoonotic, it can be suggested that raptors and crows pose a potential hazard to the health of their handlers.
crows, R, 10184 Institute of Veterinary Pathology, 2725 Infectious Diseases, raptors, <i>Chlamydiaceae</i>, 2726 Microbiology (medical), Article, 2400 General Immunology and Microbiology, 2723 Immunology and Allergy, 1312 Molecular Biology, <i>C.</i> <i>psittaci</i>/<i>C.</i> <i>abortus</i> intermediates, 570 Life sciences; biology, Medicine, 10082 Institute of Food Safety and Hygiene, Switzerland
crows, R, 10184 Institute of Veterinary Pathology, 2725 Infectious Diseases, raptors, <i>Chlamydiaceae</i>, 2726 Microbiology (medical), Article, 2400 General Immunology and Microbiology, 2723 Immunology and Allergy, 1312 Molecular Biology, <i>C.</i> <i>psittaci</i>/<i>C.</i> <i>abortus</i> intermediates, 570 Life sciences; biology, Medicine, 10082 Institute of Food Safety and Hygiene, Switzerland
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 14 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
