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Published Date: 2018-06-19 08:52:24
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Chlamydia psittaci, equine abortion - Australia: (NS) research
Archive Number: 20180619.5862515
CHLAMYDIA PSITTACI, EQUINE ABORTION - AUSTRALIA: (NEW SOUTH WALES) RESEARCH
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Date: Sun 17 Jun 2018
Source: Horsetalk [edited]
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/06/17/bird-borne-pathogen-australian-equine-abortions/


A bird-borne pathogen has been linked to a cluster of equine abortions in New South Wales, Australia.

A pathogen carried by birds has been linked by Australian researchers to a cluster of equine abortions in New South Wales.

The researchers found a smoking gun when they examined the potential role of the bacterium _Chlamydia psittaci_ in the abortions.

While birds are the major reservoir, it is capable of infecting humans, horses, and other mammals.

The strain linked to the Australian equine abortions is carried by parrots.

It all began in November 2014, when health authorities in New South Wales were told of a cluster of respiratory illness among 4 staff and students at the veterinary school in Wagga Wagga. Inquiries identified another case at a local horse stud.

All cases were traced back to exposure to the equine foetal membranes of a mare at the stud who had given birth close to term. Her foal died a week later.

The membranes passed by the mare were found to be grossly abnormal and had been kept for veterinary examination. Samples of this tissue tested positive for _C. psittaci_.

Cheryl Jenkins, Martina Jelocnik, and their colleagues decided to screen for _C. psittaci_ in cases of equine reproductive loss reported in regional New South Wales during the 2016 foaling season.

They used genetic-based screening in their efforts to detect _C. psittaci_ in foetal and placental tissue samples from equine abortions, which totalled 161, and in newborn foals with compromised health status, which numbered 38.

The study team, writing in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, found 21.1 percent of foetal and placental tissues tested positive for _C. psittaci_, and 23.7 percent of samples from the foals.

There was a statistically significant geographical clustering of cases about 170 km [about 106 mi] inland from the mid-coast of New South Wales.

The _C. psittaci_ strains from both Australian equine disease clusters belonged to the parrot-associated 6BC clade, suggesting spillover from native Australian parrots.

"The results of this work suggest _C. psittaci_ may be a more significant agent of equine reproductive loss than thought," they concluded.

"The loads of _C. psittaci_ detected in placental and foetal tissues varied between cases but were sufficiently high to induce suspicion this organism was directly associated with equine reproductive loss.

"Furthermore, the fact _C. psittaci_ loads were statistically higher in the placenta, combined with gross observations of placentitis, suggests damage to the equine placenta by this pathogen as a precipitating factor in these equine abortion cases."

They said a range of studies were now required to evaluate the exact role _C. psittaci_ plays in equine reproductive loss, the range of potential bird reservoirs, factors influencing infection spillover, and the risk that these equine infections pose to human health.

_C. psittaci_ has a broad host range. Birds are the major reservoir, with nearly 500 avian species known to be susceptible to infection and disease (psittacosis).

Cases of psittacosis have been reported in humans, ranging from subclinical infections or mild respiratory disease to life-threatening pneumonia and systemic disease. There have been rare reports of human-to-human transmission.

_C. psittaci_ infections in other mammals have been less well studied, with prevalence rates potentially underestimated. It has been detected in dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep and horses, in association with respiratory, intestinal and arthritic diseases, as well as reproductive loss.

The strongest evidence for the potential of _C. psittaci_ to cause infection and disease in a non-human mammalian host has recently re-emerged in horses.

_C. psittaci_ was previously identified as the most likely cause of reproductive loss in about 14 percent of horses in a Hungarian study, and was also isolated from an equine abortion case in Germany.

The researchers said there was unfortunately precious little published data available on the genotype of _C. psittaci_ strains predominantly found in Australian parrots, despite the fact psittacosis has been recognised as endemic in Australian parrots since at least 1935.

"If parrots are indeed involved, the exact species of parrot involved in this epizootic is currently unknown, with the inland mid-coast area home to a range of endemic parrot species.

"If parrot spillover is responsible for transmission to horses, we can only hypothesise, similar to our recent report of a human psittacosis cluster, environmental contamination with _C. psittaci_-infected parrot excreta might be sufficient for exposure and subsequent colonisation of pregnant mares."

The timing of cases examined in this study suggests seasonal and/or environmental factors may contribute to infection prevalence.
They said wider evidence to date, including cases of equine abortion caused by _C. psittaci_ in parts of the world where parrots are not found, suggests other evolutionary lineages of the bacterium may also have the potential to infect horses.

"Additional work is required to confirm the reservoirs of these equine _C. psittaci_ infections and the host, pathogen and environmental factors possibly influencing these events at the domesticated animal/wildlife interface."

They said the relative risk of exposure to _C. psittaci_-infected horses to human health from these equine infections remained unclear.

"The exact risk obviously requires further detailed investigation," they said.

The full study team comprised Jenkins, Jelocnik, Melinda Micallef, Francesca Galea, Alyce Taylor-Brown, Daniel Bogema, Michael Liu, Brendon O'Rourke, Catherine Chicken, Joan Carrick, and Adam Polkinghorne, from a range of Australian institutions.

[ref: Jenkins C, Jelocnik M, Micallef ML, et al. An epizootic of _Chlamydia psittaci_ equine reproductive loss associated with suspected spillover from native Australian parrots. Emerging Microbes & Infections. 2018; 7: 88; available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41426-018-0089-y.

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[This is an interesting study. While they specifically address parrots and possible spillover from these birds, it seems just as likely that areas without parrots but that have other birds with _C. psittaci_ could equally have a problem.

I remember some 20 years ago this was speculated in some areas in the US, but the tools to prove it and research funds were not available so it remained speculation, until now. Now those areas with infected birds other than parrots may have the opportunity to try and duplicate this study and for some collaborations with these Australian researchers. - Mod.TG

HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of New South Wales, Australia: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/284]

See Also

2017
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Chlamydia, livestock - Australia 20170709.5159221
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