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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Epidemiology of Chlamydia psittaci infections in pregnant Thoroughbred mares and foals
Veterinary Journal, Vol.273, pp.1-8
2021
Abstract
Late-term foal loss due to the traditional avian pathogen Chlamydia psittaci recently emerged as a threat to the Australian Thoroughbred industry. A longitudinal study of 14 stud farms was undertaken to better understand C. psittaci infection in pregnant mares and their foals by evaluating C. psittaci prevalence, equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) co-infection, avian reservoirs, and potential risk factors. Mucosal swabs taken from 228 healthy pregnant mares and their foals were tested for C. psittaci and EHV-1 using species-specific qPCR assays.
No foal loss was recorded due to either pathogen, and no mare tested positive to either C. psittaci or EHV-1. However, healthy newborn foals tested positive to both pathogens, at low levels, with 13.2% (n = 30/228) and 14.5% (n = 33/228) prevalence for C. psittaci and EHV-1, respectively. Co-infection occurred in 1.3% (n = 3/228) of foals. In avian environmental faecal samples collected from the same studs, C. psittaci was detected at 5.3% (n = 5/94). Multiple logistic regression modelling found that foals born in winter were more likely to be infected with C. psittaci (adjusted odds ratio = 15.83; P < 0.001; Confidence Interval 5.12–48.49). Being a maiden mare, absence of prophylactic vaginal suture, interventions in the last trimester and residing on a farm with prior history of C. psittaci abortion posed no higher risk to infection in the newborn. Analysis of all reported C. psittaci abortion cases (Hunter Valley, 2016–2019) revealed a dominant C. psittaci sequence type (denoted ST24) and a significant correlation with frost events (Spearmans’ rho = 0.44; P = 0.002).
Details
- Title
- Epidemiology of Chlamydia psittaci infections in pregnant Thoroughbred mares and foals
- Authors
- Susan Anstey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - LegacyDavid Lizarraga (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - LegacySharon Nyari (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - LegacyGareth R L Chalmers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringJoan Carrick (Author) - Equine Specialist ConsultingCatherine Chicken (Author) - Scone Equine Hospital (Australia)Cheryl Jenkins (Author) - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesN Perkins (Author) - The University of QueenslandPeter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - LegacyMartina Jelocnik (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
- Publication details
- Veterinary Journal, Vol.273, pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105683
- ISSN
- 1532-2971; 1090-0233
- Copyright note
- Crown Copyright © 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Grant note
- This research was funded by Agrifutures Australia as part of the Agrifutures Thoroughbred Horses Program (project number PRJ-011402) awarded to PT, MJ, JC, and CC.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99526507702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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