Viability assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis in men who have sex with men using molecular and culture methods.

Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Diagnosis relies on nucleic acid amplification techniques, such as PCR, which does not distinguish between viable pathogens and residual bacterial DNA, leading to potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment. PCR with confirmation of pathogen viability has not been widely explored in the STI field.

Zoonotic and other veterinary chlamydiae - an update, the role of the plasmid and plasmid-mediated transformation.

The obligate intracellular bacterial genus Chlamydia harbours species with zoonotic potential, particularly C. psittaci, causative agent of psittacosis, and C. abortus, which may lead to miscarriage in pregnant women.

Retrospective Analyses of Porcine Circovirus Type 3 (PCV-3) in Switzerland.

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has emerged as a significant pathogen affecting global swine populations, yet its epidemiology and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence and histopathological features of PCV-3 infection in pigs from Switzerland, focusing on archival cases of suckling and weaner piglets presenting with suggestive lesions. An in-house qPCR assay was developed for detecting PCV-3 in frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, enhancing the national diagnostic capabilities.

Chlamydia suis undergoes interclade recombination promoting Tet-island exchange.

Background: The obligate intracellular bacterial family Chlamydiaceae comprises a number of different species that cause disease in various vertebrate hosts including humans. Chlamydia suis, primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs, is the only species of the Chlamydiaceae family to have naturally gained tetracycline resistance (TetR), through a genomic island (Tet-island), integrated into the middle of chromosomal invasin-like gene inv. Previous studies have hypothesised that the uptake of the Tet-island from a host outside the Chlamydiaceae family was a unique event, followed by spread among C.

Longitudinal study of Chlamydia pecorum in a healthy Swiss cattle population.

Chlamydia pecorum is a globally endemic livestock pathogen but prevalence data from Switzerland has so far been limited. The present longitudinal study aimed to get an insight into the C. pecorum prevalence in Swiss cattle and investigated infection dynamics.

displays high transformation capacity with complete cloning vector integration into the chromosomal plasticity zone.

The obligate intracellular genus contains many pathogens with a negative impact on global health and economy. Despite recent progress, there is still a lack of genetic tools limiting our understanding of these complex bacteria. This study provides new insights into genetic manipulation of with the opportunistic porcine pathogen , the only chlamydial species naturally harboring an antibiotic resistance gene, originally obtained by horizontal gene transfer.

Animal Chlamydiae: A Concern for Human and Veterinary Medicine.

The Chlamydiae are a phylum of obligate intracellular, Gram-negative bacteria with a biphasic lifecycle [...

The Impact of Lateral Gene Transfer in .

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) facilitates many processes in bacterial ecology and pathogenesis, especially regarding pathogen evolution and the spread of antibiotic resistance across species. The obligate intracellular chlamydiae, which cause a range of diseases in humans and animals, were historically thought to be highly deficient in this process. However, research over the past few decades has demonstrated that this was not the case.

Chlamydia suis and tetracycline resistance genes un Italian wild boar (Sus scrofa).

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Chlamydia suis and tetracycline resistance determinants in conjunctival swabs of Italian wild boars, by PCR. Extracted DNA collected from 50 wild boars from Northern and Central Italy was examined by molecular methods. One sample (2%) from the Central Italy was positive for C.

Falcons From the United Arab Emirates Infected With / Intermediates Specified as by Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular bacteria with a broad host range. Several studies have found chlamydial species that are genetically intermediate between and in various avian species. One of these intermediate species, found in a red-shouldered hawk (), was recently classified as a new species .

Occurrence of and Typing in Conjunctival and Rectal Samples of Swiss Stray and Pet Cats.

() primarily replicates in feline conjunctival epithelial cells and is an important cause of conjunctivitis in cats. Data on infection rates in stray cats in Switzerland has been missing so far. We performed a qPCR-based -screening on 565 conjunctival and 387 rectal samples from 309 stray and 86 pet cats followed by species identification and typing using the gene , which encodes a polymorphic membrane protein.

Generation of Tetracycline and Rifamycin Resistant Recombinants.

The are a family of obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacteria known to readily exchange DNA by homologous recombination upon co-culture , allowing the transfer of antibiotic resistance residing on the chlamydial chromosome. Among all the obligate intracellular bacteria, only (.) naturally integrated a tetracycline resistance gene into its chromosome.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of C. pecorum detected in Swiss fattening pigs.

Chlamydia (C.) pecorum, an obligate intracellular bacterial species commonly found in ruminants, can also occur in pigs. However, its significance as a potential porcine pathogen, or commensal, is still unclear.

Detection of in Swiss wild birds sampled at a bird rehabilitation centre.

Background: Annually, 800-1500 wild birds are admitted to the rehabilitation centre of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Lucerne, Switzerland. The workers of the centre come in close contact with the avian patients and might therefore be exposed to zoonotic agents shed by these birds, such as .

Methods: In the present study, 91 choanal, 91 cloacal and 267 faecal swabs from 339 wild birds of 42 species were investigated using a stepwise diagnostic approach.

Occurrence of in Raptors and Crows in Switzerland.

Bacteria of the family are globally disseminated and able to infect many bird species. So far, 11 species of have been detected in wild birds, and several studies found chlamydial strains classified as genetically intermediate between (.) and .

Prevalence and phylogeny of Chlamydiae and hemotropic mycoplasma species in captive and free-living bats.

Background: Bats are hosts for a variety of microorganisms, however, little is known about the presence of Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas. This study investigated 475 captive and free-living bats from Switzerland, Germany, and Costa Rica for Chlamydiales and hemotropic mycoplasmas by PCR to determine the prevalence and phylogeny of these organisms.

Results: Screening for Chlamydiales resulted in a total prevalence of 31.

Detection of species in 2 cases of equine abortion in Switzerland: a retrospective study from 2000 to 2018.

Species of genus are important pathogens of animals, with a worldwide distribution and broad host range. Some species, such as , also pose a zoonotic disease risk. Abortion is one of the many diseases that has been associated with chlamydial infections in animals, with most attention focused on the economic impacts to sheep production.

Isolation of Tetracycline-Resistant from a Pig Herd Affected by Reproductive Disorders and Conjunctivitis.

Due to various challenges in diagnosing chlamydiosis in pigs, antibiotic treatment is usually performed before any molecular or antibiotic susceptibility testing. This could increase the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant isolates in the affected pig population and potentiate the reoccurrence of clinical signs. Here, we present a case of an Austrian pig farm, where tetracycline resistant and sensitive isolates were isolated from four finishers with conjunctivitis.

PREVALENCE OF AND TETRACYCLINE RESISTANCE GENES IN WILD BOARS OF CENTRAL EUROPE.

Our aim was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of and other in the wild boar () population of Switzerland and Northern Italy and the detection of tetracycline resistance genes by PCR. We collected a total of 471 conjunctival swabs (=292), rectal swabs (=147), and lung tissue samples (=32) belonging to 292 wild boars. The prevalence of in the investigated wild boar populations was very low (1.

Chlamydiaceae in wild, feral and domestic pigeons in Switzerland and insight into population dynamics by Chlamydia psittaci multilocus sequence typing.

Feral pigeons, common wood pigeons and Eurasian collared doves are the most common representatives of the Columbidae family in Switzerland and are mostly present in highly populated, urban areas. Pigeons may carry various members of the obligate intracellular Chlamydiaceae family, particularly Chlamydia (C.) psittaci, a known zoonotic agent, and C.

Survey on Chlamydiaceae in cloacal swabs from Swiss turkeys demonstrates absence of Chlamydia psittaci and low occurrence of Chlamydia gallinacean.

In Switzerland, domestic turkey meat is a niche product. Turkeys are fattened on mixed family-based farms scattered across the country, with most providing access to an uncovered outdoor pasture for the birds. Swiss fattening turkeys may therefore get infected with Chlamydiaceae via wild birds or their faeces, potentially shedding these bacteria at a later stage.