Abstract

RODRIGUEZ, Carlos; MOGOLLON, Carmen; NAZILA ALI, Bibi  and  FERNANDEZ, Ernesto. Detection of IgG antibodies against Chlamydophila psittaci in captive psittacine birds: Maracay, Venezuela. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2011, vol.31, n.1, pp.26-30. ISSN 1315-2556.

Chlamydiosis is a well known cosmopolitan disease in birds belonging to the Psittacidae family whose etiologic agent is Chlamydophila psittaci. It can produce from mild pneumonia to the death of the animal; its transmission to other animals and to humans is also possible through the inhalation of the microorganism, producing severe pneumonia episodes, as well as other pathologies. The populations with the highest risk of acquiring this zoonosis are those of veterinaries, bird keepers and all persons in contact with infected birds. In Venezuela there are no epidemiologic registries of this disease in psittacine birds or in humans. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of antibodies against Chlamydophila psittaci in psittacine birds from the Las Delicias zoo and the Canaima Zoogrower through a solid phase ELISA technique. Twenty-four serum samples taken from birds were analyzed and 17 were found to be positive, which results in a 71% prevalence of IgG antibodies against C. psittaci. With these results we intend to call the attention of the respective public health authorities on the impact and importance of this disease in Venezuela.

Keywords : Psittacine birds; Chlamydophila psittaci; zoogrower; zoo; chlamidiosis.