<i>Chlamydia caviae</i> in Swiss and Dutch Guinea Pigs—Occurrence and Genetic Diversity
Silvia Ciuria,
Michael S. M. Brouwer,
Marende M. de Gier,
Yvonne van Zeeland,
Alex Bossers,
Barbara Prähauser,
Julia Schädler,
Jean-Michel Hatt,
Marloes Heijne,
Nicole Borel
Affiliations
Silvia Ciuria
Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Michael S. M. Brouwer
Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
Marende M. de Gier
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
Yvonne van Zeeland
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
Alex Bossers
Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
Barbara Prähauser
Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Julia Schädler
National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Jean-Michel Hatt
Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Marloes Heijne
Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
Nicole Borel
Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
Chlamydia (C.) caviae is a known pathogen in guinea pigs, causing conjunctivitis, respiratory infections and abortions. Recently, a C. caviae-induced zoonotic link was identified as the etiology of severe community-acquired pneumonia in humans. Here, 784 conjunctival and rectal swabs originating from 260 guinea pigs and 110 rabbits from 64 husbandries in Switzerland, as well as 200 composite conjunctival swabs originating from 878 guinea pigs from 37 husbandries in The Netherlands were examined by real-time PCR followed by conventional PCR and sequencing. Chlamydiaceae were detected in 2.3% (18/784) and 12.5% (25/200) of all Swiss and Dutch samples, respectively. An overall C. caviae occurrence was detected in 2.7% (7/260) and 8.9% (78/878) of all Swiss and Dutch guinea pigs, respectively. OmpA genotyping of 64 C. caviae-positive samples resulted in 33 sequences sharing 100% nucleotide identity with the strains isolated from the zoonotic transmission cases in The Netherlands. However, all ompA sequences of this study were distinct from the C. caviae GPIC reference strain. C. caviae was not detected in rabbits but C. psittaci genotype A was identified in guinea pigs and rabbits, raising concerns about the importance of these animal species as novel zoonotic sources for C. psittaci.
