Journal article
Understanding the health and production impacts of endemic Chlamydia pecorum infections in lambs
Veterinary Microbiology, Vol.217, pp.90-96
2018
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum, is a globally recognised livestock pathogen that is capable of causing severe and economically significant diseases such as arthritis in sheep and cattle. Relatively little information is available on the clinical progression of disease and the long-term effects of asymptomatic and symptomatic chlamydiosis in sheep. Recent studies in calves indicate that endemic C. pecorum infections may reduce growth rates. To investigate the clinical health parameters and production impacts of endemic C. pecorum infection in an Australian commercial lamb flock, we performed bimonthly sampling and clinical health assessments on 105 Border Leicester lambs from two to ten months of age. Chlamydial status was investigated via serology and species-specific quantitative PCR. Throughout the study period, conjunctivitis remained a persistent clinical feature while signs of arthritis (e.g. palpable synovial joint effusions) resolved in a subset of lambs while persisting in others. Clinical disease and C. pecorum infection were highest at six months of age (weaning). As previously reported, peak seroconversion tends to occur two months after the onset of clinical symptoms (6 months of age), with lambs clearing chlamydial infection by 10 months of age, despite ongoing disease still being present at this time. Notably, the presence of chlamydial infection did not affect lamb mass or growth rates throughout the study. At necropsy, C. pecorum was not detected within the joints of lambs with chronic arthritis. Molecular analysis of the strains in this flock suggest that the infecting strains circulating in this flock are clonal C. pecorum pathotypes, denoted ST 23, commonly associated with conjunctivitis and polyarthritis in Australian sheep. This study provides a platform for further research in the epidemiology and disease transmission dynamics of C. pecorum infections in sheep.
Details
- Title
- Understanding the health and production impacts of endemic Chlamydia pecorum infections in lambs
- Authors
- Evelyn Walker (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringMartina Jelocnik (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringSankhya Bommana (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 EngineeringScott Carver (Author) - University of TasmaniaAdam Polkinghorne (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Veterinary Microbiology, Vol.217, pp.90-96
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.03.009
- ISSN
- 0378-1135; 1873-2542
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450730002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
104 File views/ downloads
433 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Microbiology
- Veterinary Sciences
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites