Chlamydophila pneumoniae in horses: a seroepidemiological survey in Italy.
Abstract: We tested 731 sera from apparently healthy light horses against Chlamydophila pneumoniae, by a microimmuno-fluorescence (MIF) test. To verify cross-reactions with other species of chlamvdiae, all sera with an antibody titre > or = 32 to C. pneumoniae were tested against both C. psittaci and C. abortus. Antibodies to C. pneumoniae were detected in 194 out of 731 (26.5%) samples tested, with antibody titres ranging from 32 to 1024. No antibody titre > or = 32 was detected in sera to C. abortus. Only few sera with a high antibody titre to C. pneumoniae reacted weakly with C. psittaci at the dilution of 1:32.
Publication Date: 2007-01-05 PubMed ID: 17201097
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae, a bacteria that causes respiratory diseases, in horses in Italy by testing the blood of 731 horses. It found that over a quarter of these horses (26.5%) had antibodies to C. pneumoniae, suggesting they may have been previously exposed or are currently infected.
Background & Methodology
- The researchers in this study conducted a seroepidemiological survey, a type of study that uses blood serum to investigate the presence of specific antibodies related to a disease or infection.
- They collected and tested 731 blood samples from light horses in Italy that were apparently healthy.
- The test used is called a Microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test, a sensitive and specific method for detecting antibodies in serum samples.
- The main focus of the study was Chlamydophila pneumoniae, a bacterium that can cause a respiratory infection in horses.
Findings & Analysis
- They found antibodies to C. pneumoniae in 194 out of 731 samples (26.5%), with antibody titres (a measure of the concentration of antibodies) ranging from 32 to 1024. This indicates that these horses have encountered the bacteria, which could either mean they are currently infected or have been previously infected.
- They did not find any serum samples with an antibody titre equal to or greater than 32 to C. abortus, another similar bacterium species, indicating that the presence of antibodies may be specific to C. pneumoniae.
- A few samples that exhibited a high titre to C. pneumoniae also reacted weakly to C. psittaci (also another species of Chlamydia), but at a low dilution of 1:32. This may indicate some cross-reactivity or a dual infection.
Conclusion
- The findings suggest that a significant proportion of horses in Italy have been exposed to Chlamydophila pneumoniae.
- The lack of reactivity to C. abortus and minor cross-reactivity to C. psittaci further demonstrate the specificity of the antibodies to C. pneumoniae, providing important epidemiological data relating to equine respiratory diseases in Italy.
Cite This Article
APA
Di Francesco A, Donati M, Mattioli L, Naldi M, Salvatore D, Poglayen G, Cevenini R, Baldelli R.
(2007).
Chlamydophila pneumoniae in horses: a seroepidemiological survey in Italy.
New Microbiol, 29(4), 303-305.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Chlamydophila Infections / epidemiology
- Chlamydophila Infections / microbiology
- Chlamydophila Infections / veterinary
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae / immunology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Italy / epidemiology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Jenkins C, Jelocnik M, Micallef ML, Galea F, Taylor-Brown A, Bogema DR, Liu M, O'Rourke B, Chicken C, Carrick J, Polkinghorne A. An epizootic of Chlamydia psittaci equine reproductive loss associated with suspected spillover from native Australian parrots. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018 May 16;7(1):88.
- Huston WM, Barker CJ, Chacko A, Timms P. Evolution to a chronic disease niche correlates with increased sensitivity to tryptophan availability for the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae. J Bacteriol 2014 Jun;196(11):1915-24.
- Theegarten D, Sachse K, Mentrup B, Fey K, Hotzel H, Anhenn O. Chlamydophila spp. infection in horses with recurrent airway obstruction: similarities to human chronic obstructive disease. Respir Res 2008 Jan 29;9(1):14.
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