Chlamydia psittaci in feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and other backyard birds in Maricopa County, Arizona

Robert J. Dusek; Anne Justice-Allen; Barbara Bodenstein; Susan Knowles; Daniel A. Grear; Laura Adams; Craig Levy; Haley D. Yaglom; Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler; Paula Ciembor; Christopher R. Gregory; Denise Pesti; Branson W. Ritchie

doi:10.7589/2017-06-145

Chlamydia psittaci in feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and other backyard birds in Maricopa County, Arizona

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

By: Robert J. Dusek, Anne Justice-Allen, Barbara Bodenstein, Susan Knowles, Daniel A. Grear, Laura Adams, Craig Levy, Haley D. Yaglom, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Paula Ciembor, Christopher R. Gregory, Denise Pesti, and Branson W. Ritchie

https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-06-145

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Abstract

In 2013, a mortality event of nonnative, feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) in residential backyards in Maricopa County, Arizona, US was attributed to infection with Chlamydia psittaci. In June 2014, additional mortality occurred in the same region. Accordingly, in August 2014 we sampled live lovebirds and sympatric bird species visiting backyard bird feeders to determine the prevalence of DNA and the seroprevalence of antibodies to C. psittaci using real-time PCR-based testing and elementary body agglutination, respectively. Chlamydia psittaci DNA was present in conjunctival-choanal or cloacal swabs in 93% (43/46) of lovebirds and 10% (14/142) of sympatric birds. Antibodies to C. psittaci were detected in 76% (31/41) of lovebirds and 7% (7/102) of sympatric birds. Among the sympatric birds, Rock Doves (Columba livia) had the highest prevalence of C. psittaci DNA (75%; 6/8) and seroprevalence (25%; 2/8). Psittacine circovirus 1 DNA was also identified, using real-time PCR-based testing, from the same swab samples in 69% (11/16) of species sampled, with a prevalence of 80% (37/46) in lovebirds and 27% (38/142) in sympatric species. The presence of either Rosy-faced Lovebirds or Rock Doves at residential bird feeders may be cause for concern for epizootic and zoonotic transmission of C. psittaci in this region.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Chlamydia psittaci in feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and other backyard birds in Maricopa County, Arizona
Series title	Journal of Wildlife Diseases
DOI	10.7589/2017-06-145
Volume	54
Issue	2
Year Published	2018
Language	English
Publisher	Wildlife Disease Association
Contributing office(s)	National Wildlife Health Center
Description	13 p.; Data Release
First page	248
Last page	260
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Maricopa County
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page