Journal article
Chlamydia pecorum gastrointestinal tract infection associations with urogenital tract infections in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
PLoS One, Vol.13(11), e0206471
2018
Abstract
Background: Chlamydia infects multiple sites within hosts, including the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In certain hosts, gastrointestinal infection is linked to treatment avoidance and self-infection at disease susceptible sites. GIT C. pecorum has been detected in livestock and koalas, however GIT prevalence rates within the koala are yet to be established. Methods: Paired conjunctival, urogenital and rectal samples from 33 koalas were screened for C. pecorum and C. pecorum plasmid using 16S rRNA and CDS5-specific quantitative PCR assays, respectively. Amplicon sequencing of 359 bp ompA fragment was used to identify site-specific genotypes. Results: The overall C. pecorum prevalence collectively (healthy and clinically diseased koalas) was 51.5%, 57.6% and 42.4% in urogenital, conjunctival and gastrointestinal sites, respectively. Concurrent urogenital and rectal Chlamydia was identified in 14 koalas, with no cases of GIT only Chlamydia shedding. The ompA genotype G dominated the GIT positive samples, and genotypes A and E' were dominant in urogenital tract (UGT) positive samples. Increases in C. pecorum plasmid per C. pecorum load (detected by PCR) showed clustering in the clinically diseased koala group (as assessed by scatter plot analysis). There was also a low correlation between plasmid positivity and C. pecorum infected animals at any site, with a prevalence of 47% UGT, 36% rectum and 40% faecal pellet. Conclusions: GIT C. pecorum PCR positivity suggests that koala GIT C. pecorum infections are common and occur regularly in animals with concurrent genital tract infections. GIT dominant genotypes were identified and do not appear to be related to plasmid positivity. Preliminary results indicated a possible association between C. pecorum plasmid load and clinical UGT disease.
Details
- Title
- Chlamydia pecorum gastrointestinal tract infection associations with urogenital tract infections in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
- Authors
- Samuel Phillips (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringAmy Robbins (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringJoanne Loader (Author) - Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty LtdJon Hanger (Author) - Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty LtdRosemary Booth (Author) - Australia Zoo Wildlife HospitalMartina Jelocnik (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringAdam Polkinghorne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringPeter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.13(11), e0206471; 12
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0206471
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2018 Phillips et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451247102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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