Detection of chlamydial infection in Iranian turkey flocks

Background: Avian chlamydiosis is a zoonotic disease ofbirds caused by the intracellular bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Avianchlamydiosis leads to severe respiratory disease in young turkeys and eggproduction losses in layers. OBJECTIVES: Due to paucity of information about theprevalence of chlamydial infection in the turkey population in Iran, this studywas conducted to detect chlamydial infection in some Iranian turkey flocks indifferent provinces. METHODS: A total of 177 samples were taken from turkeysand first verified as Chlamydiaceae by Chlamydiaceae-specificreal-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) by detection of the 23S RNAgene of Chlamydiaceae (Ct values ranging from 34 to 38) and thenpositive samples were investigated for the presence of C. psittaci by anested PCR. RESULTS: Seventeen of 177 samples (9.6%), correspondingto 13 farms of 48 examined farms were positive for Chlamydiaceae byreal-time PCR. None of the positive samples were found to be C. psittaciin the nested PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no C. psittaciinfection in the turkey population in Iran. We recommend investigation on otherfarm animals and wild populations for possible chlamydial infection and forbetter understanding of the source and epidemiology of this agent. Due to thechallenges that exist for sampling and the relevant impact on reducing positivesamples, investigation by parallel and complementary techniques may be usefulin showing the true prevalence of infection in the target populations