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Käser T, Renois F, Wilson HL, Cnudde T, Gerdts V, Dillon JAR, Jungersen G, Agerholm JS, Meurens F. Contribution of the swine model in the study of human sexually transmitted infections. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 66:346-360. [PMID: 29175001 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The pig has garnered more and more interest as a model animal to study various conditions in humans. The growing success of the pig as an experimental animal model is explained by its similarities with humans in terms of anatomy, genetics, immunology, and physiology, by their manageable behavior and size, and by the general public acceptance of using pigs for experimental purposes. In addition, the immunological toolbox of pigs has grown substantially in the last decade. This development led to a boost in the use of pigs as a preclinical model for various human infections including sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) like Chlamydia trachomatis. In the current review, we discuss the use of animal models for biomedical research on the major human STIs. We summarize results obtained in the most common animal models and focus on the contributions of the pig model towards the understanding of pathogenesis and the host immune response. In addition, we present the main features of the porcine model that are particularly relevant for the study of pathogens affecting human female and male genital tracts. We also inform on the technological advancements in the porcine toolbox to facilitate new discoveries in this biologically important animal model. There is a continued need for improvements in animal modeling for biomedical research inclusive STI research. With all its advantages and the highly improved toolbox, the porcine model can play a crucial role in STI research and open the door to new exciting discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Käser
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, 27607 Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Fanny Renois
- LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), UMR INRA 1329, 44307 Nantes, France
| | - Heather L Wilson
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Thomas Cnudde
- BIOMAP, Laboratoire Biomédicaments Anti-Parasitaires, ISP, UMR INRA 1282, Université Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Volker Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jo-Anne R Dillon
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Gregers Jungersen
- Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen S Agerholm
- Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Scherler A, Jacquier N, Greub G. Chlamydiales, Anaplasma and Bartonella: persistence and immune escape of intracellular bacteria. Microbes Infect 2017; 20:416-423. [PMID: 29162422 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular bacteria, such as Chlamydiales, Anaplasma or Bartonella, need to persist inside their host in order to complete their developmental cycle and to infect new hosts. In order to escape from the host immune system, intracellular bacteria have developed diverse mechanisms of persistence, which can directly impact the health of their host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Scherler
- Centre for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Jacquier
- Centre for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Centre for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Dawson HD, Chen C, Gaynor B, Shao J, Urban JF. The porcine translational research database: a manually curated, genomics and proteomics-based research resource. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:643. [PMID: 28830355 PMCID: PMC5568366 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of swine in biomedical research has increased dramatically in the last decade. Diverse genomic- and proteomic databases have been developed to facilitate research using human and rodent models. Current porcine gene databases, however, lack the robust annotation to study pig models that are relevant to human studies and for comparative evaluation with rodent models. Furthermore, they contain a significant number of errors due to their primary reliance on machine-based annotation. To address these deficiencies, a comprehensive literature-based survey was conducted to identify certain selected genes that have demonstrated function in humans, mice or pigs. RESULTS The process identified 13,054 candidate human, bovine, mouse or rat genes/proteins used to select potential porcine homologs by searching multiple online sources of porcine gene information. The data in the Porcine Translational Research Database (( http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6065 ) is supported by >5800 references, and contains 65 data fields for each entry, including >9700 full length (5' and 3') unambiguous pig sequences, >2400 real time PCR assays and reactivity information on >1700 antibodies. It also contains gene and/or protein expression data for >2200 genes and identifies and corrects 8187 errors (gene duplications artifacts, mis-assemblies, mis-annotations, and incorrect species assignments) for 5337 porcine genes. CONCLUSIONS This database is the largest manually curated database for any single veterinary species and is unique among porcine gene databases in regard to linking gene expression to gene function, identifying related gene pathways, and connecting data with other porcine gene databases. This database provides the first comprehensive description of three major Super-families or functionally related groups of proteins (Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Marker genes, Solute Carrier Superfamily, ATP binding Cassette Superfamily), and a comparative description of porcine microRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry D Dawson
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA.
| | - Celine Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Brady Gaynor
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Molecular Plant Pathology Lab, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Jonathan Shao
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Molecular Plant Pathology Lab, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | - Joseph F Urban
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
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54
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Chen Z, Chen L, Wang C, Yu J, Bai Q, Yu M, Song Y, Hu Y, Wu Y. Transcription of seven genes in a model of interferon-γ-induced persistent Chlamydia psittaci infection. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:4835-4842. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Donati M, Cenacchi G, Biondi R, Papa V, Borel N, Vecchio Nepita E, Magnino S, Pasquinelli G, Levi A, Franco OL. Activity of synthetic peptides against Chlamydia. Biopolymers 2017; 108. [PMID: 28555934 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The in vitro activity of six synthetic peptides against 36 strains of Chlamydia from different origins was investigated. Clavanin MO (CMO) proved to be the most active peptide, reducing the inclusion number of all Chlamydia strains from eight different species tested by ≥50% at 10 µg mL-1 . Mastoparan L showed an equal activity against C. trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, C. suis, and C. muridarum, but did not exert any inhibitory effect against C. psittaci, C. pecorum, C. abortus, and C. avium even at 80 µg mL-1 . These data suggest that CMO could be a promising compound in the prevention and treatment of chlamydial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Simone Magnino
- National Reference laboratory for Animal Chlamydioses, IZSLER, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Aurora Levi
- DIMES, Microbiology, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Octavio L Franco
- Centre of Proteomics and Biochemistry, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Pos-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Catolica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Leonard CA, Schoborg RV, Borel N. Productive and Penicillin-Stressed Chlamydia pecorum Infection Induces Nuclear Factor Kappa B Activation and Interleukin-6 Secretion In Vitro. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:180. [PMID: 28553623 PMCID: PMC5425588 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) is an inflammatory transcription factor that plays an important role in the host immune response to infection. The potential for chlamydiae to activate NFκB has been an area of interest, however most work has focused on chlamydiae impacting human health. Given that inflammation characteristic of chlamydial infection may be associated with severe disease outcomes or contribute to poor overall fitness in farmed animals, we evaluated the ability of porcine chlamydiae to induce NFκB activation in vitro. C. pecorum infection induced both NFκB nuclear translocation and activation at 2 hours post infection (hpi), an effect strongly enhanced by suppression of host de novo protein synthesis. C. suis and C. trachomatis showed less capacity for NFκB activation compared to C. pecorum, suggesting a species-specific variation in NFκB activation. At 24 hpi, C. pecorum induced significant NFκB activation, an effect not abolished by penicillin (beta lactam)-induced chlamydial stress. C. pecorum-dependent secretion of interleukin 6 was also detected in the culture supernatant of infected cells at 24 hpi, and this effect, too, was unchanged by penicillin-induced chlamydial stress. Taken together, these results suggest that NFκB participates in the early inflammatory response to C. pecorum and that stressed chlamydiae can promote inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory A Leonard
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert V Schoborg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN, USA
| | - Nicole Borel
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of ZurichZurich, Switzerland
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Cram ED, Rockey DD, Dolan BP. Chlamydia spp. development is differentially altered by treatment with the LpxC inhibitor LPC-011. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:98. [PMID: 28438125 PMCID: PMC5402638 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0992-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia species are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a broad range of mammalian hosts. Members of related genera are pathogens of a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Despite the diversity of Chlamydia, all species contain an outer membrane lipooligosaccharide (LOS) that is comprised of a genus-conserved, and genus-defining, trisaccharide 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid Kdo region. Recent studies with lipopolysaccharide inhibitors demonstrate that LOS is important for the C. trachomatis developmental cycle during RB- > EB differentiation. Here, we explore the effects of one of these inhibitors, LPC-011, on the developmental cycle of five chlamydial species. RESULTS Sensitivity to the drug varied in some of the species and was conserved between others. We observed that inhibition of LOS biosynthesis in some chlamydial species induced formation of aberrant reticulate bodies, while in other species, no change was observed to the reticulate body. However, loss of LOS production prevented completion of the chlamydial reproductive cycle in all species tested. In previous studies we found that C. trachomatis and C. caviae infection enhances MHC class I antigen presentation of a model self-peptide. We find that treatment with LPC-011 prevents enhanced host-peptide presentation induced by infection with all chlamydial-species tested. CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrate that LOS synthesis is necessary for production of infectious progeny and inhibition of LOS synthesis induces aberrancy in certain chlamydial species, which has important implications for the use of LOS synthesis inhibitors as potential antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D Cram
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 105 Magruder Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Daniel D Rockey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 105 Magruder Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Brian P Dolan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 105 Magruder Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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Taylor-Brown A, Polkinghorne A. New and emerging chlamydial infections of creatures great and small. New Microbes New Infect 2017; 18:28-33. [PMID: 28560043 PMCID: PMC5436083 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, our knowledge of the host range and diversity of members of the Chlamydiaceae, obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens of humans and animals, was thought to be nearly complete. Aided by advances in molecular diagnostics, a new picture is emerging, however, that the host barriers may be looser than previously thought for many chlamydial species. While cross-host transmission of chlamydial species is a concern for animal health, new reports highlight an emerging zoonotic risk for several species associated with intensification of farming and the widespread popularity of companion animals. The description of an expanded cohort of new species within this family from avian and reptilian hosts has also highlighted how much we still have to learn about the biology and pathogenicity of the Chlamydiaceae as a whole. Reports emerging about these relatives of the traditional chlamydial pathogens are matched by the continued identification of novel Chlamydia-related bacteria in the phylum Chlamydiae, providing evidence that many may be pathogenic to humans or animals and pose a zoonotic or vector-borne risk. The review examines the new hosts described for well-characterized chlamydial veterinary pathogens, emerging novel chlamydial species and the potential for these to cause disease in their respective hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Taylor-Brown
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
| | - A Polkinghorne
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
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Seth-Smith HM, Wanninger S, Bachmann N, Marti H, Qi W, Donati M, di Francesco A, Polkinghorne A, Borel N. The Chlamydia suis Genome Exhibits High Levels of Diversity, Plasticity, and Mobile Antibiotic Resistance: Comparative Genomics of a Recent Livestock Cohort Shows Influence of Treatment Regimes. Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:750-760. [PMID: 28338777 PMCID: PMC5381551 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia suis is an endemic pig pathogen, belonging to a fascinating genus of obligate intracellular pathogens. Of particular interest, this is the only chlamydial species to have naturally acquired genes encoding for tetracycline resistance. To date, the distribution and mobility of the Tet-island are not well understood. Our study focused on whole genome sequencing of 29 C. suis isolates from a recent porcine cohort within Switzerland, combined with data from USA tetracycline-resistant isolates. Our findings show that the genome of C. suis is very plastic, with unprecedented diversity, highly affected by recombination and plasmid exchange. A large diversity of isolates circulates within Europe, even within individual Swiss farms, suggesting that C. suis originated around Europe. New World isolates have more restricted diversity and appear to derive from European isolates, indicating that historical strain transfers to the United States have occurred. The architecture of the Tet-island is variable, but the tetA(C) gene is always intact, and recombination has been a major factor in its transmission within C. suis. Selective pressure from tetracycline use within pigs leads to a higher number of Tet-island carrying isolates, which appear to be lost in the absence of such pressure, whereas the loss or gain of the Tet-island from individual strains is not observed. The Tet-island appears to be a recent import into the genome of C. suis, with a possible American origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M.B. Seth-Smith
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Wanninger
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Bachmann
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hanna Marti
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Weihong Qi
- Functional Genomics Centre Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Donati
- DIMES, Microbiology, Policlinico S. Orsola, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonietta di Francesco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Adam Polkinghorne
- Centre for Animal Health Innovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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60
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Marti H, Kim H, Joseph SJ, Dojiri S, Read TD, Dean D. Tet(C) Gene Transfer between Chlamydia suis Strains Occurs by Homologous Recombination after Co-infection: Implications for Spread of Tetracycline-Resistance among Chlamydiaceae. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:156. [PMID: 28223970 PMCID: PMC5293829 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia suis is a swine pathogen that has also recently been found to cause zoonotic infections of the human eye, pharynx, and gastrointestinal tract. Many strains contain a tetracycline class C gene [tet(C)] cassette that confers tetracycline resistance. The cassette was likely originally acquired by horizontal gene transfer from a Gram-negative donor after the introduction of tetracycline into animal feed in the 1950s. Various research groups have described the capacity for different Chlamydia species to exchange DNA by homologous recombination. Since over 90% of C. suis strains are tetracycline resistant, they represent a potential source for antibiotic-resistance spread within and between Chlamydiaceae species. Here, we examined the genetics of tet(C)-transfer among C. suis strains. Tetracycline-sensitive C. suis strain S45 was simultaneously or sequentially co-infected with tetracycline-resistant C. suis strains in McCoy cells. Potential recombinants were clonally purified by a harvest assay derived from the classic plaque assay. C. suis strain Rogers132, lacking transposases IS200 and IS605, was the most efficient donor, producing two unique recombinants detected in three of the 56 (5.4%) clones screened. Recombinants were found to have a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8-16 μg/mL for tetracycline. Resistance remained stable over 10 passages as long as recombinants were initially grown in tetracycline at twice the MIC of S45 (0.032 μg/mL). Genomic analysis revealed that tet(C) had integrated into the S45 genome by homologous recombination at two unique sites depending on the recombinant: a 55 kb exchange between nrqF and pckG, and a 175 kb exchange between kdsA and cysQ. Neither site was associated with inverted repeats or motifs associated with recombination hotspots. Our findings show that cassette transfer into S45 has low frequency, does not require IS200/IS605 transposases, is stable if initially grown in tetracycline, and results in multiple genomic configurations. We provide a model for stable cassette transfer to better understand the capability for cassette acquisition by Chlamydiaceae species that infect humans, a matter of public health importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Marti
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Hoyon Kim
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Sandeep J Joseph
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA
| | - Stacey Dojiri
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland CA, USA
| | - Timothy D Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, AtlantaGA, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California at San Francisco/Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, OaklandCA, USA; Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, USA; Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, BerkeleyCA, USA; Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San FranciscoCA, USA
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Selective Pressure Promotes Tetracycline Resistance of Chlamydia Suis in Fattening Pigs. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166917. [PMID: 27893834 PMCID: PMC5125646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In pigs, Chlamydia suis has been associated with respiratory disease, diarrhea and conjunctivitis, but there is a high rate of inapparent C. suis infection found in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Tetracycline resistance in C. suis has been described in the USA, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Cyprus and Israel. Tetracyclines are commonly used in pig production due to their broad-spectrum activity and relatively low cost. The aim of this study was to isolate clinical C. suis samples in cell culture and to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility in vitro under consideration of antibiotic treatment on herd level. Swab samples (n = 158) identified as C. suis originating from 24 farms were further processed for isolation, which was successful in 71% of attempts with a significantly higher success rate from fecal swabs compared to conjunctival swabs. The farms were divided into three treatment groups: A) farms without antibiotic treatment, B) farms with prophylactic oral antibiotic treatment of the whole herd consisting of trimethoprime, sulfadimidin and sulfathiazole (TSS), or C) farms giving herd treatment with chlortetracycline with or without tylosin and sulfadimidin (CTS). 59 isolates and their corresponding clinical samples were selected and tested for the presence or absence of the tetracycline resistance class C gene [tet(C)] by conventional PCR and isolates were further investigated for their antibiotic susceptibility in vitro. The phenotype of the investigated isolates was either classified as tetracycline sensitive (Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] < 2 μg/ml), intermediate (2 μg/ml ≤ MIC < 4 μg/ml) or resistant (MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml). Results of groups and individual pigs were correlated with antibiotic treatment and time of sampling (beginning/end of the fattening period). We found clear evidence for selective pressure as absence of antibiotics led to isolation of only tetracycline sensitive or intermediate strains whereas tetracycline treatment resulted in a greater number of tetracycline resistant isolates.
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De Puysseleyr L, De Puysseleyr K, Vanrompay D, De Vos WH. Quantifying the growth of chlamydia suis in cell culture using high-content microscopy. Microsc Res Tech 2016; 80:350-356. [PMID: 27862609 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The porcine pathogen Chlamydia suis is widespread in pig farming. Isolation of Chlamydia suis in cell culture is crucial for the generation and characterization of new isolates. However, isolation of Chlamydia suis strains from field samples is fastidious. Therefore, we exploited high-content microscopy to quantify the growth of Chlamydia suis strains in different cell lines. We found that the cell line yielding optimal propagation of Chlamydia suis differed among isolates, and we identified cell lines outperforming those routinely used for chlamydial isolation. We conclude that adaptation of the propagation procedure to the origin of the putative field isolate is highly recommended to improve the recovery rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leentje De Puysseleyr
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristien De Puysseleyr
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Winnok H De Vos
- Lab of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Cell Systems and Imaging, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the last several years, we have demonstrated that intestinal lymphangitis and lymphatic obstruction are fundamental lesions in Crohn's disease, for which no therapy is currently available. There is an infectious enteritis of young pigs that offers an opportunity to understand how the lymphangitis of CD may have been initiated. The pathology of chlamydial enteritis was described earlier, from 1987 to 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue blocks and hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides from Chlamydia suis-inoculated young pigs were provided by D. Rogers and F. Guscetti. Experimental animals, gnotobiotic and conventional, had been autopsied 4, 7, and 10 days postinoculation. Serial sections of intestine were immunostained with a Chlamydia trachomatis antibody, which cross-reacted with C. suis antigen, and compared with hematoxylin and eosin preparations. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry revealed antigen in villous epithelial cells of jejunum and ileum and in the endothelium of lacteals and lymphatics by day 4. This was accompanied by lymphatic endothelial necrosis, lymphangitis, and inflammatory lymphatic obstruction, through several layers of the affected intestinal segments, days 4 through 10. CONCLUSIONS Although the original authors documented lesions to define the porcine disease, here the author characterizes the lymphangitis as a model for understanding Crohn's disease and suggests a chlamydial origin for the latter.
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Abstract
Chlamydiae are frequently encountered intracellular Gram-negative bacteria. In pigs, these bacteria in combination with other pathogens contribute to the induction of a multi-aetiological syndrome. One of the major characteristics of Chlamydia spp. is their ability to cause prolonged, often subclinical infections. While the economic consequences of Chlamydia spp. infections in pig farms are not fully established, we know that reproductive disorders and other syndromes correlated with Chlamydia infection can lead to financial loss as a result of a reduction in pork production. Additionally, Chlamydia spp. presents a potential zoonotic hazard, therefore determining the prevalence of Chlamydia in pig populations is critical. In the present study 97 pig herds from Poland were involved. To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia PCR and CFT tests were used. In total 797 vaginal samples, 797 conjunctival samples, and 235 serum samples were collected and tested. The study took place from 2011 to 2014. We found Chlamydia spp. present in 71·2% of all tested farms. The percentage of animals testing positive on any given farm varied from 20% to 100%.
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Hamonic G, Pasternak JA, Käser T, Meurens F, Wilson HL. Extended semen for artificial insemination in swine as a potential transmission mechanism for infectious Chlamydia suis. Theriogenology 2016; 86:949-956. [PMID: 27087534 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Although typically unnoticed, Chlamydia infections in swine have been shown to be both widespread and may impact production characteristics and reproductive performance in swine. Serum titers suggest Chlamydia infection within boar studs is common, and infected boars are known to shed chlamydia in their ejaculates. Although the transmission of viruses in chilled extended semen (ES) is well established, the inclusion of antibiotics in commercially available extender is generally believed to limit or preclude the transmission of infectious bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of ES used in artificial insemination to support transmission of the obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia suis (C suis) under standard industry conditions. First, the effect of C suis on sperm quality during storage was assessed by flow cytometry. Only concentrations above 5 × 10(5) viable C suis/mL caused significant spermicidal effects which only became evident after 7 days of storage at 17 °C. No significant effect on acrosome reaction was observed using any chlamydial concentration. Next, an in vitro infection model of swine testicular fibroblast cells was established and used to evaluate the effect of chilled storage on C suis viability under variable conditions. Storage in Androhep ES reduced viability by 34.4% at a multiplicity of infection of 1.25, an effect which increased to 53.3% when the multiplicity of infection decreased to 0.1. Interestingly, storage in semen extender alone (SE) or ES with additional antibiotics had no effect on bacterial viability. To rule out a secondary effect on extender resulting from metabolically active sperm, C suis was stored in fresh and expended SE and again no significant effect on bacterial viability was observed. Fluorescent microscopy of C suis in ES shows an association between bacteria and the remaining gel fraction after storage suggesting that the apparent reduction of bacterial viability in the presence of semen is due to adherence to gel fraction. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that C suis remains viable and infectious during chilled storage and is globally unaffected by antibiotics in extender. Thus, ES used in artificial insemination may act as a viable transmission mechanism for C suis in swine.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Hamonic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)-International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - J A Pasternak
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)-International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - T Käser
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)-International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - F Meurens
- LUNAM Université, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine and Food Sciences and Engineering, UMR BioEpAR, Nantes, France; INRA, UMR1300 Biology, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health, Nantes, France
| | - H L Wilson
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)-International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Tetracycline Susceptibility in Chlamydia suis Pig Isolates. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149914. [PMID: 26913523 PMCID: PMC4767523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in an Italian pig herd, determine the tetracycline susceptibility of C. suis isolates, and evaluate tet(C) and tetR(C) gene expression. Conjunctival swabs from 20 pigs were tested for C. suis by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and 55% (11) were positive. C. suis was then isolated from 11 conjunctival swabs resampled from the same herd. All positive samples and isolates were positive for the tet(C) resistance gene. The in vitro susceptibility to tetracycline of the C. suis isolates showed MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 4 μg/mL. Tet(C) and tetR(C) transcripts were found in all the isolates, cultured both in the absence and presence of tetracycline. This contrasts with other Gram-negative bacteria in which both genes are repressed in the absence of the drug. Further investigation into tet gene regulation in C. suis is needed.
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Penicillin G-Induced Chlamydial Stress Response in a Porcine Strain of Chlamydia pecorum. Int J Microbiol 2016; 2016:3832917. [PMID: 26997956 PMCID: PMC4779511 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3832917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum causes asymptomatic infection and pathology in ruminants, pigs, and koalas. We characterized the antichlamydial effect of the beta lactam penicillin G on Chlamydia pecorum strain 1710S (porcine abortion isolate). Penicillin-exposed and mock-exposed infected host cells showed equivalent inclusions numbers. Penicillin-exposed inclusions contained aberrant bacterial forms and exhibited reduced infectivity, while mock-exposed inclusions contained normal bacterial forms and exhibited robust infectivity. Infectious bacteria production increased upon discontinuation of penicillin exposure, compared to continued exposure. Chlamydia-induced cell death occurred in mock-exposed controls; cell survival was improved in penicillin-exposed infected groups. Similar results were obtained both in the presence and in the absence of the eukaryotic protein translation inhibitor cycloheximide and at different times of initiation of penicillin exposure. These data demonstrate that penicillin G induces the chlamydial stress response (persistence) and is not bactericidal, for this chlamydial species/strain in vitro, regardless of host cell de novo protein synthesis.
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Käser T, Pasternak JA, Hamonic G, Rieder M, Lai K, Delgado-Ortega M, Gerdts V, Meurens F. Flow cytometry as an improved method for the titration of Chlamydiaceae and other intracellular bacteria. Cytometry A 2016; 89:451-60. [PMID: 26849001 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.22822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydiaceae is a family of intracellular bacteria causing a range of diverse pathological outcomes. The most devastating human diseases are ocular infections with C. trachomatis leading to blindness and genital infections causing pelvic inflammatory disease with long-term sequelae including infertility and chronic pelvic pain. In order to enable the comparison of experiments between laboratories investigating host-chlamydia interactions, the infectious titer has to be determined. Titer determination of chlamydia is most commonly performed via microscopy of host cells infected with a serial dilution of chlamydia. However, other methods including fluorescent ELISpot (Fluorospot) and DNA Chip Scanning Technology have also been proposed to enumerate chlamydia-infected cells. For viruses, flow cytometry has been suggested as a superior alternative to standard titration methods. In this study we compared the use of flow cytometry with microscopy and Fluorospot for the titration of C. suis as a representative of other intracellular bacteria. Titer determination via Fluorospot was unreliable, while titration via microscopy led to a linear read-out range of 16 - 64 dilutions and moderate reproducibility with acceptable standard deviations within and between investigators. In contrast, flow cytometry had a vast linear read-out range of 1,024 dilutions and the lowest standard deviations given a basic training in these methods. In addition, flow cytometry was faster and material costs were lower compared to microscopy. Flow cytometry offers a fast, cheap, precise, and reproducible alternative for the titration of intracellular bacteria like C. suis. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Käser
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - J A Pasternak
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - G Hamonic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - M Rieder
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - K Lai
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - M Delgado-Ortega
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - V Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - F Meurens
- Nantes-Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine and Food Sciences and Engineering, UMR BioEpAR, LUNAM Université, Oniris, Nantes, F-44307, France.,Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health, CS 40706, INRA, UMR1300 Biology, Nantes, F-44307, France
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Chlamydial Antibiotic Resistance and Treatment Failure in Veterinary and Human Medicine. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 3:10-18. [PMID: 27218014 PMCID: PMC4845085 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-016-0028-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Chlamydiaceae are widespread pathogens of both humans and animals. Chlamydia trachomatis infection causes blinding trachoma and reproductive complications in humans. Chlamydia pneumoniae causes human respiratory tract infections and atypical pneumonia. Chlamydia suis infection is associated with conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and failure to gain weight in domestic swine. Chlamydial infections in humans and domesticated animals are generally controlled by antibiotic treatment—particularly macrolides (usually azithromycin) and tetracyclines (tetracycline and doxycycline). Tetracycline-containing feed has also been used to limit infections and promote growth in livestock populations, although its use has decreased because of growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance development. Because Sandoz and Rockey published an elegant review of chlamydial anti-microbial resistance in 2010, we will review the following: (i) antibiotic resistance in C. suis, (ii) recent evidence for acquired resistance in human chlamydial infections, and (iii) recent non-genetic mechanisms of antibiotic resistance that may contribute to treatment failure.
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71
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Hoffmann K, Schott F, Donati M, Di Francesco A, Hässig M, Wanninger S, Sidler X, Borel N. Prevalence of Chlamydial Infections in Fattening Pigs and Their Influencing Factors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143576. [PMID: 26619187 PMCID: PMC4664257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydial infections in pigs are associated with respiratory disease, diarrhea, conjunctivitis and other pathologies. The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of Chlamydiaceae in Swiss fattening pigs by applying sensitive and specific detection methods and to correlate prior antibiotic treatment and farm related factors with differences in prevalence. Conjunctival and fecal swabs were collected from 636 pigs in 29 Swiss fattening pig farms with and without antibiotic treatment, at the beginning and the end of the fattening period. The swabs were screened by real-time PCR for Chlamydiaceae. For the chlamydial detection and species-identification, a DNA-microarray analysis was performed. All farms were positive for Chlamydiaceae with 94.3 and 92.0% prevalence in fecal swabs as well as 45.9 and 32.6% in conjunctival swabs at the first and second time points, respectively. Antibiotic treatment could not clear the infection on herd level. Potential contact with wild boars was a significant risk factor, while hygiene criteria did not influence chlamydial prevalence. A correlation of chlamydial positivity to diarrhea, but not to conjunctivitis was evident. Chlamydia suis was the predominant species. Mixed infections with C. suis and C. pecorum were common, with a substantial increase in C. pecorum positivity at the end of the fattening period, and this finding was associated with ruminant contact. C. abortus was detected in one conjunctival swab. In this study, C. suis inhabited the intestinal tract of nearly all examined pigs, implying a long-term infection. C. pecorum was also common and might be transmitted to pigs by ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Hoffmann
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Schott
- Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Donati
- DIMES, Microbiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Michael Hässig
- Department for Farm Animals, Section for Herd Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Wanninger
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xaver Sidler
- Department of Farm Animals, Division of Swine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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72
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De Puysseleyr L, De Puysseleyr K, Braeckman L, Morré SA, Cox E, Vanrompay D. Assessment of Chlamydia suis Infection in Pig Farmers. Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 64:826-833. [PMID: 26576707 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia suis infections are endemic in domestic pigs in Europe and can lead to conjunctivitis, pneumonia, enteritis and reproductive failure. Currently, the knowledge on the zoonotic potential of C. suis is limited. Moreover, the last decades, porcine tetracycline resistant C. suis strains have been isolated, which interfere with treatment of chlamydial infections. In this study, the presence of C. suis was examined on nine Belgian pig farms, using Chlamydia culture and a C. suis specific real-time PCR in both pigs and farmers. In addition to diagnosis for C. suis, the farmers' samples were examined using a Chlamydia trachomatis PCR. Additionally, the Chlamydia isolates were tested for the presence of the tet(C) resistance gene. C. DNA was demonstrated in pigs on all farms, and eight of nine farmers were positive in at least one anatomical site. None of the farmers tested positive for C. trachomatis. Chlamydia suis isolates were obtained from pigs of eight farms. Nine porcine C. suis isolates possessing a tet(C) gene were retrieved, originating from three farms. Moreover, C. suis isolates were identified in three human samples, including one pharyngeal and two rectal samples. These findings suggest further research on the zoonotic transfer of C. suis from pigs to humans is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L De Puysseleyr
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - K De Puysseleyr
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - L Braeckman
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - S A Morré
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Control, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - E Cox
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - D Vanrompay
- Lab of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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73
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Jelocnik M, Bachmann NL, Kaltenboeck B, Waugh C, Woolford L, Speight KN, Gillett A, Higgins DP, Flanagan C, Myers GSA, Timms P, Polkinghorne A. Genetic diversity in the plasticity zone and the presence of the chlamydial plasmid differentiates Chlamydia pecorum strains from pigs, sheep, cattle, and koalas. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:893. [PMID: 26531162 PMCID: PMC4632680 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2053-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia pecorum is a globally recognised pathogen of livestock and koalas. To date, comparative genomics of C. pecorum strains from sheep, cattle and koalas has revealed that only single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a limited number of pseudogenes appear to contribute to the genetic diversity of this pathogen. No chlamydial plasmid has been detected in these strains despite its ubiquitous presence in almost all other chlamydial species. Genomic analyses have not previously included C. pecorum from porcine hosts. We sequenced the genome of three C. pecorum isolates from pigs with differing pathologies in order to re-evaluate the genetic differences and to update the phylogenetic relationships between C. pecorum from each of the hosts. Methods Whole genome sequences for the three porcine C. pecorum isolates (L1, L17 and L71) were acquired using C. pecorum-specific sequence capture probes with culture-independent methods, and assembled in CLC Genomics Workbench. The pairwise comparative genomic analyses of 16 pig, sheep, cattle and koala C. pecorum genomes were performed using several bioinformatics platforms, while the phylogenetic analyses of the core C. pecorum genomes were performed with predicted recombination regions removed. Following the detection of a C. pecorum plasmid, a newly developed C. pecorum-specific plasmid PCR screening assay was used to evaluate the plasmid distribution in 227 C. pecorum samples from pig, sheep, cattle and koala hosts. Results Three porcine C. pecorum genomes were sequenced using C. pecorum-specific sequence capture probes with culture-independent methods. Comparative genomics of the newly sequenced porcine C. pecorum genomes revealed an increased average number of SNP differences (~11 500) between porcine and sheep, cattle, and koala C. pecorum strains, compared to previous C. pecorum genome analyses. We also identified a third copy of the chlamydial cytotoxin gene, found only in porcine C. pecorum isolates. Phylogenetic analyses clustered porcine isolates into a distinct clade, highlighting the polyphyletic origin of C. pecorum in livestock. Most surprising, we also discovered a plasmid in the porcine C. pecorum genome. Using this novel C. pecorum plasmid (pCpec) sequence, a) we developed a pCpec screening assay to evaluate the plasmid distribution in C. pecorum from different hosts; and b) to characterise the pCpec sequences from available previously sequenced C. pecorum genome data. pCpec screening showed that the pCpec is common in all hosts of C. pecorum, however not all C. pecorum strains carry pCpec. Conclusions This study provides further insight into the complexity of C. pecorum epidemiology and novel genomic regions that may be linked to host specificity. C. pecorum plasmid characterisation may aid in improving our understanding of C. pecorum pathogenesis across the variety of host species this animal pathogen infects. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2053-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Jelocnik
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Nathan L Bachmann
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | | | - Courtney Waugh
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Lucy Woolford
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - K Natasha Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - Amber Gillett
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, QLD, 4519, Australia
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Cheyne Flanagan
- Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444, Australia
| | - Garry S A Myers
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter Timms
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia
| | - Adam Polkinghorne
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4558, Australia.
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Joseph SJ, Marti H, Didelot X, Castillo-Ramirez S, Read TD, Dean D. Chlamydiaceae Genomics Reveals Interspecies Admixture and the Recent Evolution of Chlamydia abortus Infecting Lower Mammalian Species and Humans. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:3070-84. [PMID: 26507799 PMCID: PMC4994753 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause a diversity of severe infections among humans and livestock on a global scale. Identification of new species since 1989 and emergence of zoonotic infections, including abortion in women, underscore the need for genome sequencing of multiple strains of each species to advance our knowledge of evolutionary dynamics across Chlamydiaceae. Here, we genome sequenced isolates from avian, lower mammalian and human hosts. Based on core gene phylogeny, five isolates previously classified as Chlamydia abortus were identified as members of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pecorum. Chlamydia abortus is the most recently emerged species and is a highly monomorphic group that lacks the conserved virulence-associated plasmid. Low-level recombination and evidence for adaptation to the placenta echo evolutionary processes seen in recently emerged, highly virulent niche-restricted pathogens, such as Bacillus anthracis. In contrast, gene flow occurred within C. psittaci and other Chlamydiaceae species. The C. psittaci strain RTH, isolated from a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), is an outlying strain with admixture of C. abortus, C. psittaci, and its own population markers. An average nucleotide identity of less than 94% compared with other Chlamydiaceae species suggests that RTH belongs to a new species intermediary between C. psittaci and C. abortus. Hawks, as scavengers and predators, have extensive opportunities to acquire multiple species in their intestinal tract. This could facilitate transformation and homologous recombination with the potential for new species emergence. Our findings indicate that incubator hosts such as birds-of-prey likely promote Chlamydiaceae evolution resulting in novel pathogenic lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep J Joseph
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Hanna Marti
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California
| | - Xavier Didelot
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
- Programa de Genomica Evolutiva, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Timothy D Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, and University of California, Berkeley
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75
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Wang Y, Zhang JJ, Yang WR, Luo HY, Zhang JH, Wang XZ. Lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of FAS ligand in cultured immature boar sertoli cells through the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines andmiR-187. Mol Reprod Dev 2015; 82:880-91. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage and Herbivore; College of Animal Science and Technology; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage and Herbivore; College of Animal Science and Technology; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
| | - Wei-Rong Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage and Herbivore; College of Animal Science and Technology; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
| | - Hong-Yan Luo
- College of Resource and Environment; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
| | - Jia-Hua Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage and Herbivore; College of Animal Science and Technology; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
| | - Xian-Zhong Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage and Herbivore; College of Animal Science and Technology; Southwest University; Beibei Chongqing P. R. China
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76
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Van Gils M, Aeby S, Vanrompay D, Greub G. Absence of Chlamydia-like organisms in pigs. New Microbes New Infect 2015; 7:31-2. [PMID: 26137311 PMCID: PMC4484541 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive failure, especially abortion, causes significant economic loss in the pig industry. Waddlia chondrophila and Parachlamydia acanthamoebae are potential abortigenic agents for pigs. Therefore, we investigated the presence of these two Chlamydia-like organisms in abortion-related samples originating from Belgian pig farms. All investigated samples remained negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Van Gils
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - S Aeby
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - D Vanrompay
- Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - G Greub
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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77
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Käser T, Cnudde T, Hamonic G, Rieder M, Pasternak JA, Lai K, Tikoo SK, Wilson HL, Meurens F. Porcine retinal cell line VIDO R1 and Chlamydia suis to modelize ocular chlamydiosis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2015; 166:95-107. [PMID: 26103808 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infections can lead to trachoma, the major cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Trachoma control strategies are very helpful but logistically challenging, and a trachoma vaccine is needed but not available. Pigs are a valuable large animal model for various immunological questions and could facilitate the study of human ocular chlamydial infections. In addition, a recent study identified the zoonotic potential of Chlamydia suis, the natural pathogen of pigs. In terms of the One Health Initiative, understanding the host-pathogen-interactions and finding a vaccine for porcine chlamydia infections would also benefit human health. Thus, we infected the porcine retinal cell line VIDO R1 with C. suis and analyzed the chlamydial life cycle and the innate immune response of the infected cells. Our results indicate that C. suis completes its life cycle in VIDO R1 cells within 48 h, comparable to C. trachomatis in humans. C. suis infection of VIDO R1 cells led to increased levels of various innate immune mediators like pathogen recognition receptors, cytokines and chemokines including IL6, TNFα, and MMP9, also most relevant in human C. trachomatis infections. These results illustrate the first steps in the host-pathogen-interactions of ocular C. suis infections in pigs and show their similarity to C. trachomatis infections in humans, justifying further testing of pigs as an animal model for human trachoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Käser
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Thomas Cnudde
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Glenn Hamonic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Meghanne Rieder
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - J Alex Pasternak
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Ken Lai
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Suresh K Tikoo
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - Heather L Wilson
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Home of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - François Meurens
- LUNAM Université, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine and Food Sciences and Engineering, UMR BioEpAR, F-44307 Nantes, France; INRA, UMR1300 Biology, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health, CS 40706, F-44307 Nantes, France.
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78
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Seroprevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia psittaci infection in domestic geese Anser domestica, in Hainan province of China. Acta Trop 2015; 145:23-5. [PMID: 25700712 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci, the agent of psittacosis in humans, infects a wide range of bird species. To assess the risk of psittacosis posed by domestic geese in China, the seroprevalence of C. psittaci infection in domestic geese in Hainan province, tropical China was examined using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 25.6% (461/1800; 95% CI: 23.6-27.6). The C. psittaci seroprevalence ranged from 19% (95% CI: 14.6-23.4) to 34% (95% CI: 28.6-39.4) among different regions in Hainan province, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). The risk factors significantly associated with C. psittaci seroprevalence were the presence of hygiene conditions, age, gender, and environment of geese in the farms. The results of the present investigation indicated the high seroprevalence of C. psittaci infection in geese in Hainan province, tropical China. Close contact with these geese is associated with a risk of zoonotic transmission of C. psittaci. Public education should be implemented to reduce the risk of avian to human transmission of such a pathogenic agent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the occurrence of C. psittaci seroprevalence in geese in China.
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Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Chlamydia Infection in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in China. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:460473. [PMID: 25945336 PMCID: PMC4402174 DOI: 10.1155/2015/460473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria distributed all over the world, known to cause various forms of diseases in animals and humans. In the present study, a serological survey was conducted to detect the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with rabbit chlamydiosis in northeast China, including Liaoning province, Jilin province, Heilongjiang province, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Antibodies to Chlamydia were determined by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 17.88% in total of 800 blood samples. The Chlamydia seroprevalence varied in domestic rabbits from different factors, and genders of domestic rabbits were considered as major risk factors associated with Chlamydia infection. Our study revealed a widespread and high prevalence of Chlamydia infection in domestic rabbits in northeast China, with higher exposure risk in female domestic rabbits. These findings suggested the potential importance of domestic rabbits in the transmission of zoonotic Chlamydia infection, and thus Chlamydia should be taken into consideration in diagnosing rabbit diseases. To our knowledge, there is no report of Chlamydia infection in domestic rabbits in China and the results extend the host range for Chlamydia, which has important implications for public health and the local economy.
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Qin SY, Huang SY, Yin MY, Tan QD, Liu GX, Zhou DH, Zhu XQ, Zhou JZ, Qian AD. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Chlamydia abortus infection in free-ranging white yaks in China. BMC Vet Res 2015; 11:8. [PMID: 25601354 PMCID: PMC4308933 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-015-0323-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia is gram-negative obligate bacteria which causes a wide variety of diseases in humans and animals. To date, there are a few reports about the seroprevalence of Chlamydia and the risk factors associated with Chlamydia infection in yaks in the world. In this study, 974 blood samples were collected from white yaks (Bos grunniens) in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu province, northwest China from June 2013 to April 2014. Results Antibodies against Chlamydia abortus were examined by the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, and 158 of 974 (16.22%) white yaks were seropositive for C. abortus antibodies at the cut-off of 1:16. The risk factors associated with seroprevalence were evaluated by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Region, gender and age of white yak were left out of the final model, due to its insignificance in the logistic regression analysis (P > 0.05). However, season was considered as a major risk factor associated with C. abortus infection in white yaks. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first survey of C. abortus seroprevalence in white yaks in China, which extends the host range for C. abortus and has important implications for public health and the local Tibetan economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yuan Qin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130118, PR China. .,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Si-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Ming-Yang Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China. .,College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410128, PR China.
| | - Qi-Dong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China. .,College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230000, PR China.
| | - Guang-Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Dong-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130118, PR China. .,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Ji-Zhang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Ai-Dong Qian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130118, PR China.
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Donati M, Di Paolo M, Favaroni A, Aldini R, Di Francesco A, Ostanello F, Biondi R, Cremonini E, Ginocchietti L, Cevenini R. A mouse model for Chlamydia suis genital infection. Pathog Dis 2014; 73:1-3. [PMID: 25854004 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftu017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A mouse model for Chlamydia suis genital infection was developed. Ninety-nine mice were randomly divided into three groups and intravaginally inoculated with chlamydia: 45 mice (group 1) received C. suis purified elementary bodies (EBs), 27 (group 2) were inoculated with C. trachomatis genotype E EBs and 27 mice (group 3) with C. trachomatis genotype F EBs. Additionally, 10 mice were used as a negative control. At seven days post-infection (dpi) secretory anti-C. suis IgA were recovered from vaginal swabs of all C. suis inoculated mice. Chlamydia suis was isolated from 93, 84, 71 and 33% vaginal swabs at 3, 5, 7 and 12 dpi. Chlamydia trachomatis genotype E and F were isolated from 100% vaginal swabs up to 7 dpi and from 61 and 72%, respectively, at 12 dpi. Viable C. suis and C. trachomatis organisms were isolated from uterus and tubes up to 16 and 28 dpi, respectively. The results of the present study show the susceptibility of mice to intravaginal inoculation with C. suis. A more rapid course and resolution of C. suis infection, in comparison to C. trachomatis, was highlighted. The mouse model could be useful for comparative investigations involving C. suis and C. trachomatis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Donati
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Di Paolo
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alison Favaroni
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Aldini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonietta Di Francesco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Fabio Ostanello
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Roberta Biondi
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cremonini
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Ginocchietti
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Cevenini
- Section of Microbiology, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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De Puysseleyr K, De Puysseleyr L, Dhondt H, Geens T, Braeckman L, Morré SA, Cox E, Vanrompay D. Evaluation of the presence and zoonotic transmission of Chlamydia suis in a pig slaughterhouse. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:560. [PMID: 25358497 PMCID: PMC4216655 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-014-0560-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A significant number of studies on pig farms and wild boars worldwide, demonstrate the endemic presence of Chlamydia suis in pigs. However, the zoonotic potential of this pathogen, phylogenetically closely related to Chlamydia trachomatis, is still uninvestigated. Therefore, this study aims to examine the zoonotic transmission in a Belgian pig abattoir. Methods Presence of Chlamydia suis in pigs, contact surfaces, air and employees was assessed using a Chlamydia suis specific real-time PCR and culture. Furthermore, Chlamydia suis isolates were tested for the presence of the tet(C) gene. Results Chlamydia suis bacteria could be demonstrated in samples from pigs, the air and contact surfaces. Moreover, eye swabs of two employees were positive for Chlamydia suis by both PCR and culture. The tet(C) gene was absent in both human Chlamydia suis isolates and no clinical signs were reported. Conclusions These findings suggest the need for further epidemiological and clinical research to elucidate the significance of human ocular Chlamydia suis infections. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0560-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristien De Puysseleyr
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
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83
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Lis P, Kumala A, Spalinski M, Rypula K. Novel locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based probe for the rapid identification of Chlamydia suis using real-time PCR. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:225. [PMID: 25249439 PMCID: PMC4177436 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0225-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the importance of chlamydial infections in pigs has become more obvious, a rapid and sensitive method to study the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in pig herds is required. Such a method should permit routine diagnostic tests for herds with clinical and subclinical infections, without the need for Chlamydia culture. Results The main objective of this study was to develop a specific and rapid method for detecting C. suis in swine herds. A real-time PCR assay using a single locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing probe specific for C. suis was developed based on the previously described 28S rDNA fragment used to identify Chlamydiales. Use of LNA nucleotides enabled the single probe to target a short, specific fragment of the 23S rRNA. The probe showed high specificity for C. suis and did not show any cross-reactivity with other Chlamydia or Chlamydophila species nor with swine DNA. All of the 86 tested field isolates, earlier identified as C. suis, were confirmed as positive using the newly developed assay. Conclusions Using single LNA-based C. suis-specific probe allowed rapid and simple identification of this pathogen without requiring sequencing analysis and culturing. The proposed method may be used to study the prevalence of C. suis infection in pig herds and as a routine diagnostic test for herds with clinical and subclinical infection.
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84
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Leonard CA, Borel N. Chronic Chlamydial Diseases: From Atherosclerosis to Urogenital Infections. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-014-0005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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85
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Mair KH, Sedlak C, Käser T, Pasternak A, Levast B, Gerner W, Saalmüller A, Summerfield A, Gerdts V, Wilson HL, Meurens F. The porcine innate immune system: an update. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 45:321-43. [PMID: 24709051 PMCID: PMC7103209 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few years, we have seen an increasing interest and demand for pigs in biomedical research. Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) are closely related to humans in terms of their anatomy, genetics, and physiology, and often are the model of choice for the assessment of novel vaccines and therapeutics in a preclinical stage. However, the pig as a model has much more to offer, and can serve as a model for many biomedical applications including aging research, medical imaging, and pharmaceutical studies to name a few. In this review, we will provide an overview of the innate immune system in pigs, describe its anatomical and physiological key features, and discuss the key players involved. In particular, we compare the porcine innate immune system to that of humans, and emphasize on the importance of the pig as model for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Mair
- Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - C Sedlak
- Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - T Käser
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - A Pasternak
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - B Levast
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - W Gerner
- Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - A Saalmüller
- Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - A Summerfield
- Institute of Virology and Immunoprophylaxis (IVI), Sensemattstrasse 293, 3147 Mittelhäusern, Switzerland
| | - V Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - H L Wilson
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - F Meurens
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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86
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Rapid detection of Chlamydia/Chlamydophila group in samples collected from swine herds with and without reproductive disorders. Pol J Vet Sci 2014; 17:367-9. [DOI: 10.2478/pjvs-2014-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The study was carried out in seven reproductive herds of pigs. In three of them reproductive disorders were observed. Three herds consisted of 10-50 and four consisted of 120-500 adult sows and they were called small and medium, respectively. Fifty-seven adult sows were randomly selected from herds. Serum samples were tested using the complement fixation test and swabs from both eyes and from the vaginal vestibule were examined using real-time PCR. All serum samples were negative. Infected sows were present in each of the study herds. In total, there were 28 positive samples (53%, 28/48) in real-time PCR in sows with reproductive disorders and 35 (53%, 35/66) in sows selected from herds without problems in reproduction. One isolate proved to be Chlamydophila pecorum, whereas all the remaining were Chamydia suis
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87
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De Puysseleyr K, De Puysseleyr L, Geldhof J, Cox E, Vanrompay D. Development and validation of a real-time PCR for Chlamydia suis diagnosis in swine and humans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96704. [PMID: 24816542 PMCID: PMC4016100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigs are the natural host for Chlamydia suis, a pathogen which is phylogenetically highly related to the human pathogen C. trachomatis. Chlamydia suis infections are generally treated with tetracyclines. In 1998, tetracyline resistant C. suis strains emerged on U.S. pig farms and they are currently present in the Belgian, Cypriote, German, Israeli, Italian and Swiss pig industry. Infections with tetracycline resistant C. suis strains are mainly associated with severe reproductive failure leading to marked economical loss. We developed a sensitive and specific TaqMan probe-based C. suis real-time PCR for examining clinical samples of both pigs and humans. The analytical sensitivity of the real-time PCR is 10 rDNA copies/reaction without cross-amplifying DNA of other Chlamydia species. The PCR was successfully validated using conjunctival, pharyngeal and stool samples of slaughterhouse employees, as well as porcine samples from two farms with evidence of reproductive failure and one farm without clinical disease. Chlamydia suis was only detected in diseased pigs and in the eyes of humans. Positive humans had no clinical complaints. PCR results were confirmed by culture in McCoy cells. In addition, Chlamydia suis isolates were also examined by the tet(C) PCR, designed for demonstrating the tetracycline resistance gene tet(C). The tet(C) gene was only present in porcine C. suis isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristien De Puysseleyr
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Leentje De Puysseleyr
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julie Geldhof
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eric Cox
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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Genome Sequence of Chlamydia suis MD56, Isolated from the Conjunctiva of a Weaned Piglet. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2014; 2:2/3/e00425-14. [PMID: 24812227 PMCID: PMC4014695 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00425-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia suis is a natural pathogen of pigs (Sus scrofa) and causes conjunctivitis, pneumonia, enteritis, and various reproductive disorders that adversely impact this economically important animal. Here, we report the first C. suis genome, that of C. suis MD56, isolated from a conjunctival swab of a weaned piglet.
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89
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Schoborg RV, Borel N. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) co-infection induced chlamydial persistence/stress does not require viral replication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:20. [PMID: 24660163 PMCID: PMC3952398 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiae may exist at the site of infection in an alternative replicative form, called the aberrant body (AB). ABs are produced during a viable but non-infectious developmental state termed “persistence” or “chlamydial stress.” As persistent/stressed chlamydiae: (i) may contribute to chronic inflammation observed in diseases like trachoma; and (ii) are more resistant to current anti-chlamydial drugs of choice, it is critical to better understand this developmental stage. We previously demonstrated that porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) co-infection induced Chlamydia pecorum persistence/stress in culture. One critical characteristic of persistence/stress is that the chlamydiae remain viable and can reenter the normal developmental cycle when the stressor is removed. Thus, we hypothesized that PEDV-induced persistence would be reversible if viral replication was inhibited. Therefore, we performed time course experiments in which Vero cells were C. pecorum/PEDV infected in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX), which inhibits viral but not chlamydial protein synthesis. CHX-exposure inhibited PEDV replication, but did not inhibit induction of C. pecorum persistence at 24 h post-PEDV infection, as indicated by AB formation and reduced production of infectious EBs. Interestingly, production of infectious EBs resumed when CHX-exposed, co-infected cells were incubated 48–72 h post-PEDV co-infection. These data demonstrate that PEDV co-infection-induced chlamydial persistence/stress is reversible and suggest that this induction (i) does not require viral replication in host cells; and (ii) does not require de novo host or viral protein synthesis. These data also suggest that viral binding and/or entry may be required for this effect. Because the PEDV host cell receptor (CD13 or aminopeptidase N) stimulates cellular signaling pathways in the absence of PEDV infection, we suspect that PEDV co-infection might alter CD13 function and induce the chlamydiae to enter the persistent state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert V Schoborg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN, USA
| | - Nicole Borel
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
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High seroprevalence of Chlamydia infection in sows in Hunan province, subtropical China. Trop Anim Health Prod 2014; 46:701-4. [DOI: 10.1007/s11250-014-0548-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Nunes A, Gomes JP. Evolution, phylogeny, and molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 23:49-64. [PMID: 24509351 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Chlamydiaceae are a family of obligate intracellular bacteria characterized by a unique biphasic developmental cycle. It encompasses the single genus Chlamydia, which involves nine species that affect a wide range of vertebral hosts, causing infections with serious impact on human health (mainly due to Chlamydia trachomatis infections) and on farming and veterinary industries. It is believed that Chlamydiales originated ∼700mya, whereas C. trachomatis likely split from the other Chlamydiaceae during the last 6mya. This corresponds to the emergence of modern human lineages, with the first descriptions of chlamydial infections as ancient as four millennia. Chlamydiaceae have undergone a massive genome reduction, on behalf of the deletional bias "use it or lose it", stabilizing at 1-1.2Mb and keeping a striking genome synteny. Their phylogeny reveals species segregation according to biological properties, with huge differences in terms of host range, tissue tropism, and disease outcomes. Genome differences rely on the occurrence of mutations in the >700 orthologous genes, as well as on events of recombination, gene loss, inversion, and paralogous expansion, affecting both a hypervariable region named the plasticity zone, and genes essentially encoding polymorphic and transmembrane head membrane proteins, type III secretion effectors and some metabolic pathways. Procedures for molecular typing are still not consensual but have allowed the knowledge of molecular epidemiology patterns for some species as well as the identification of outbreaks and emergence of successful clones for C. trachomatis. This manuscript intends to provide a comprehensive review on the evolution, phylogeny, and molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Nunes
- Reference Laboratory of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João P Gomes
- Reference Laboratory of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal.
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92
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Seroprevalence of Chlamydia infection in pigs in Jiangxi province, south-eastern China. J Med Microbiol 2013; 62:1864-1867. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.066555-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia are Gram-negative obligate bacteria that cause a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. To assess the risk of zoonosis posed by pigs, a total of 920 serum samples were collected from pigs in 11 administrative cities in Jiangxi province, south-eastern China, and the seroprevalence of Chlamydia antibodies was investigated by an indirect haemagglutination assay. The pathogen-specific antibodies were detected in 539 (58.59 %) pigs with seroprevalence ranging from 33.33 % (Jingdezhen) to 90.91 % (Pingxiang) among different cities (P<0.05). The highest prevalence was found in pregnant sows (80.89 %, 127/157), followed by breeding boars (79.37 %, 50/63), suckling sows (77.01 %, 67/87), fattening pigs (69.32 %, 61/88) and non-pregnant sows (62.5 %, 180/288). Piglets had the lowest prevalence of 22.78 % (54/237). The seroprevalence of Chlamydia infection among different categories of pigs was also significantly different (P<0.05). These results indicate that Chlamydia is highly prevalent in pigs in Jiangxi province and our results indicate that the presence of Chlamydia exposure in pigs may pose a potential threat to human health.
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93
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Multilocus sequence analysis provides insights into molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia pecorum infections in Australian sheep, cattle, and koalas. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:2625-32. [PMID: 23740730 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00992-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum is a significant pathogen of domestic livestock and wildlife. We have developed a C. pecorum-specific multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) scheme to examine the genetic diversity of and relationships between Australian sheep, cattle, and koala isolates. An MLSA of seven concatenated housekeeping gene fragments was performed using 35 isolates, including 18 livestock isolates (11 Australian sheep, one Australian cow, and six U.S. livestock isolates) and 17 Australian koala isolates. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the koala isolates formed a distinct clade, with limited clustering with C. pecorum isolates from Australian sheep. We identified 11 MLSA sequence types (STs) among Australian C. pecorum isolates, 10 of them novel, with koala and sheep sharing at least one identical ST (designated ST2013Aa). ST23, previously identified in global C. pecorum livestock isolates, was observed here in a subset of Australian bovine and sheep isolates. Most notably, ST23 was found in association with multiple disease states and hosts, providing insights into the transmission of this pathogen between livestock hosts. The complexity of the epidemiology of this disease was further highlighted by the observation that at least two examples of sheep were infected with different C. pecorum STs in the eyes and gastrointestinal tract. We have demonstrated the feasibility of our MLSA scheme for understanding the host relationship that exists between Australian C. pecorum strains and provide the first molecular epidemiological data on infections in Australian livestock hosts.
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94
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Zhang NZ, Zhou DH, Shi XC, Nisbet AJ, Huang SY, Ciren D, Wu SM, Zhu XQ. First report of Chlamydiaceae seroprevalence in Tibetan pigs in Tibet, China. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:196-9. [PMID: 23428089 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The seroprevalence of Chlamydiaceae infection in Tibetan pigs in Tibet, China, was examined by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), between April, 2010, and December, 2010. A total of 71 of 427 serum samples (16.63%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 15.31-17.95] were positive for Chlamydiaceae antibodies. Forty Chlamydiaceae seropositives from 232 samples were recorded in sera from Nyingchi (17.24%, 95% CI 15.40-19.08) and 31 positives were recorded in 195 serum samples from Mainling (15.90%, 95% CI 14.02-17.78). The investigation showed that the prevalence in female animals was 17.61% (95% CI 15.22-20.00), and in male animals it was 12.72% (95% CI 11.07-14.37). The prevalence ranged from 0% to 20.61% (95% CI 17.81-23.48) among different age groups, with a higher prevalence in growing pigs (p<0.01). The results indicated that Chlamydiaceae infection was widespread in Tibetan pigs in Tibet, China, which is of public health concern in this region of the world. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Chlamydiaceae seroprevalence in Tibetan pigs in Tibet, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian-Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gansu Province, PR China
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95
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del Rio L, Barberá-Cremades M, Navarro JA, Buendía AJ, Cuello F, Ortega N, Gallego MC, Salinas J, Caro MR. IFN-γ expression in placenta is associated to resistance to Chlamydia abortus after intragastric infection. Microb Pathog 2012; 56:1-7. [PMID: 23287018 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Intragastric infection mimics the natural route of infection of Chlamydia abortus (etiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion). In the mouse model, intragastric experimental infection induces very mild signs of infection followed by late term abortions, as it is shown by the natural ovine host. In order to evaluate the immune mechanisms associated to the dissemination of the pathogen from the gastrointestinal tract, we have administered an intragastric dose of C. abortus to pregnant mice. Systemic and local expression of cytokines, tissue colonization and excretion of bacteria after parturition were monitored during pregnancy. Susceptible CBA/J mice showed a higher bacterial colonization of the placenta and excretion of live bacteria after parturition that were related to a higher local IL-10 expression. By contrast, resistant C57BL/6 mouse strain had higher local IFN-γ mRNA expression in the placenta just before parturition and a transient bacterial colonization of the reproductive tract, with no excretion of C. abortus after parturition. In summary, intragastric infection not only mimics the natural route of infection of C. abortus, but can also be useful in order to understand the immunopathogenesis of chlamydial abortion in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- L del Rio
- Department of Animal Health, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Spain.
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96
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Schautteet K, De Clercq E, Miry C, Van Groenweghe F, Delava P, Kalmar I, Vanrompay D. Tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis in cases of reproductive failure on Belgian, Cypriote and Israeli pig production farms. J Med Microbiol 2012; 62:331-334. [PMID: 23105027 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.042861-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar cases of severe reproductive failure associated with the presence of Chlamydia suis in two Belgian, one Cypriote and one Israeli pig farrowing to slaughter farms are presented. Vaginal and rectal swabs from 39 sows were examined by culture and DNA microarray. Nineteen of 23 (83 %) C. suis-positive sows were infected with tetracycline-resistant C. suis strains, as determined by MIC tests. Furthermore, boar semen from a German artificial insemination centre, intended for export, was positive for C. suis. Emergence of tetracycline-resistant C. suis strains was confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelijn Schautteet
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evelien De Clercq
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cora Miry
- Provincial Institute for the Prevention of Animal Diseases West-Vlaanderen, Industrielaan 29, B-8820 Torhout, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Van Groenweghe
- Provincial Institute for the Prevention of Animal Diseases West-Vlaanderen, Industrielaan 29, B-8820 Torhout, Belgium
| | | | - Isabelle Kalmar
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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97
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Magwedere K, Hemberger MY, Hoffman LC, Dziva F. Zoonoses: a potential obstacle to the growing wildlife industry of Namibia. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2012; 2:18365. [PMID: 23077724 PMCID: PMC3474136 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v2i0.18365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonoses, which account for approximately 75% of emerging human infectious diseases worldwide, pose a re-emerging threat to public health. With an ever-increasing interrelationship between humans, livestock and wildlife species, the threat to human health will rise to unprecedented levels. Wildlife species contribute to the majority of emerging diseases; therefore, there is an urgent need to define control systems of zoonoses of wildlife origin but very little information exists. In this review, we examine prevalent zoonotic infections reported in Namibia between 1990 and 2009 and assess their potential impact on the growing wildlife industry. A wide spectrum of zoonotic diseases was confirmed in both livestock and wildlife species, with rabies and anthrax cases being over-represented and also showing the widest species distribution. Whilst vaccination and ante-mortem inspection against these diseases may curb infected livestock species from entering the human food chain, such practices are difficult to implement in free-ranging wildlife species. In this context, there is a need to improve existing control measures and/or develop novel and better interventional strategies to reduce the threat of this re-emerging global problem. This review provides the basis for initiating a multidisciplinary evidence-based approach to control zoonoses in countries with thriving wildlife and game farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kudakwashe Magwedere
- Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa ; Division of Veterinary Public Health, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Mariental, Namibia
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98
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Koschwanez M, Meli M, Vögtlin A, Greub G, Sidler X, Handke M, Sydler T, Kaiser C, Pospischil A, Borel N. Chlamydiaceae family, Parachlamydia spp., and Waddlia spp. in porcine abortion. J Vet Diagn Invest 2012; 24:833-9. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638712452729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, despite extensive laboratory investigations, most cases of porcine abortion remain without an etiological diagnosis. Due to a lack of recent data on the abortigenic effect of order Chlamydiales, 286 fetuses and their placentae of 113 abortion cases (1–5 fetuses per abortion case) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for family Chlamydiaceae and selected Chlamydia-like organisms such as Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and Waddlia chondrophila. In 0.35% of the cases (1/286 fetuses), the Chlamydiaceae real-time PCR was positive. In the Chlamydiaceae-positive fetus, Chlamydia abortus was detected by a commercial microarray and 16S ribosomal RNA PCR followed by sequencing. The positive fetus had a Porcine circovirus-2 coinfection. By the Parachlamydia real-time PCR, 3.5% (10/286 fetuses of 9 abortion cases) were questionable positive (threshold cycle values: 35.0–45.0). In 2 of these 10 cases, a confirmation by Chlamydiales-specific real-time PCR was possible. All samples tested negative by the Waddlia real-time PCR. It seems unlikely that Chlamydiaceae, Parachlamydia, and Waddlia play an important role as abortigenic agents in Swiss sows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Koschwanez
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Marina Meli
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Andrea Vögtlin
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Xaver Sidler
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Martin Handke
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Titus Sydler
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Carmen Kaiser
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Andreas Pospischil
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Koschwanez, Sydler, Kaiser, Pospischil, Borel), Clinical Laboratory (Meli)
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, National Reference Center for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (Vögtlin)
- Department of Farm Animals (Sidler, Handke), University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Switzerland (Greub)
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99
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Salinas J, Ortega N, Borge C, Rangel MJ, Carbonero A, Perea A, Caro MR. Abortion associated with Chlamydia abortus in extensively reared Iberian sows. Vet J 2012; 194:133-4. [PMID: 22476020 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 03/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive disease was investigated in Iberian pigs on an extensive farrow-to-finish farm in the southwest of Spain. Chlamydia abortus was isolated in cell culture and C. abortus-specific PCR products were detected in placental and fetal tissues. In one batch of 14 sows, the percentage of sera positive for C. abortus specific antibodies increased from 35.7% to 85.7% in the period of 2 weeks following abortion. C. abortus may play a role in abortion in extensively reared Iberian sows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Salinas
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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100
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Englund S, af Segerstad CH, Arnlund F, Westergren E, Jacobson M. The occurrence of Chlamydia spp. in pigs with and without clinical disease. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8:9. [PMID: 22280482 PMCID: PMC3307427 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Within the genera Chlamydia, the development of refined diagnostic techniques has allowed the identification of four species that are capable of infecting pigs. The epidemiology, clinical, and zoonotic impacts of these species are however largely unknown. The study aimed to investigate the presence of Chlamydia spp. in the intestines of growing pigs and in conjunctival swabs from finisher pigs, and relate the findings to clinical signs. Results By histology, 20 of 48 pigs had intestinal lesions that may be consistent with chlamydial infection. By PCR, forty-six of the pigs were positive whereas two samples were inhibited. Sequencing of 19 DNA extracts identified these as Chlamydia suis. By immunohistochemistry, 32 of 44 samples were positive and a significant relationship was detected between macroscopically visible intestinal lesions and a high degree of infection. By real-time PCR, a significant difference was detected between pigs with and without conjunctivitis when a Ct value of 36 was employed but not when a Ct value of 38 was employed. Conclusions Chlamydia suis was demonstrated in most samples and overall, no correlation to clinical signs was detected. However, a correlation was noted between samples with a high degree of infection and the presence of clinical signs. It is possible, that the intensive pig production systems studied might predispose for the transmission and maintenance of the infection thus increasing the infectious load and the risk for disease in the pig.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Englund
- National Veterinary Institute, 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
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