Molecular diagnosis and genotyping of Chlamydia psittaci in captive psittacines and their owners in the middle province of Iran

Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) is an avian pathogen which its clinical symptoms of the disease may be varies from asymptomatic to several clinical symptoms, which include: conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis), sinusitis, diarrhea (dehydration), respiratory distress, yellow-green urine, loss of appetite, which may cause respiratory disorders in humans. Oropharyngeal(owner and birds) and cloacal (birds) swabs were taken from 54 captive psittacine birds and their owners who attended to veterinary clinics in Isfahan (Totally 108 samples).To study the prevalence of C. psittaci in captive birds and their owners using molecular detection assay (PCR),samples were collected during 2014 from a total of 10 various species of parrots. C. psittaci was identified in four species of birds (40%). Sequencing was performed to confirm the PCR positive results, demonstrating that all positive samples of C. psittaci belonged to genotype A, representing the first report of the presence of this genotype in Iran. The determination of this bacterium in captive psittacine birds presents that there is a potential risk for owners who live or have direct contact with them and that there is a feasibility of infecting other birds and humans.