Abstract

Chlamydophila psittaci is widely distributed in a number of birds and humans throughout the world, but little is known of the prevalence of C. psittaci in birds in China. In the present study, sera from 240 chickens, 200 ducks, 200 geese and 200 pigeons in China’s southern Guangdong Province were assayed for Chlamydophila antibodies by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The specific antibodies were found in sera of 17.92% of 240 chickens, 6% of 200 ducks, 22% of 200 geese and 17% of 200 pigeons. Statistical analysis showed that the seroprevalence of C. psittaci in ducks was significantly lower than that in chickens, geese and pigeons, respectively (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in free-range chickens was 10.83%, and it was 25% in caged chickens, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among different age groups of pigeons, the difference in seroprevalence of C. psittaci between adult pigeons and adolescent pigeons was significant (P < 0.05). This is the first time that the seroprevalence of Chlamydophila infection in domestic birds in Southern China was reported, and the data showed that the prevalence of Chlamydophila infection in domestic birds is high, indicating that the domestic birds may be an important source for human infection by C. psittaci in Southern China.

Key words: Chlamydophila, seroprevalence, chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, southern China, indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA).