Molecular evidence of Chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated Chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials

D. Burnard; W.M. Huston; J.K. Webb; M. Jelocnik; A. Reiss; A. Gillett; S. Fitzgibbon; S. Carver; J. Carrucan; C. Flanagan; P. Timms; A. Polkinghorne

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13164-y

Back

Molecular evidence of Chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated Chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Molecular evidence of Chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated Chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials

D. Burnard, W.M. Huston, J.K. Webb, M. Jelocnik, A. Reiss, A. Gillett, S. Fitzgibbon, S. Carver, J. Carrucan, C. Flanagan, …

Scientific Reports, Vol.7(1)

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13164-y

Files and links (1)

url

Free to Read *No subscription requiredView

Abstract

The order Chlamydiales are biphasic intracellular bacterial pathogens infecting humans and domesticated animals. Wildlife infections have also been reported, with the most studied example being Chlamydia pecorum infections in the koala, an iconic Australian marsupial. In koalas, molecular evidence suggests that spill-over from C. pecorum infected livestock imported into Australia may have had a historical or contemporary role. Despite preliminary evidence that other native Australian marsupials also carry C. pecorum, their potential as reservoirs of this pathogen and other Chlamydia-related bacteria (CRBs) has been understudied. Mucosal epithelial samples collected from over 200 native Australian marsupials of different species and geographic regions across Australia were PCR screened for Chlamydiales. Previously described and genetically distinct C. pecorum genotypes and a range of 16S rRNA genotypes sharing similarity to different CRBs in the broader Chlamydiales order were present. One 16S rRNA Chlamydiales genotype recently described in Australian ticks that parasitise native Australian marsupials was also identified. This study provides further evidence that chlamydial infections are widespread in native fauna and that detailed investigations are required to understand the influence these infections have on host species conservation, but also whether infection spill-over plays a role in their epidemiology.

Details

Title: Molecular evidence of Chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated Chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials
Authors/Creators: D. Burnard (Author/Creator) - University of the Sunshine Coast
W.M. Huston (Author/Creator) - University of Technology Sydney
J.K. Webb (Author/Creator) - University of Technology Sydney
M. Jelocnik (Author/Creator) - University of the Sunshine Coast
A. Reiss (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
A. Gillett (Author/Creator) - Australia Zoo
S. Fitzgibbon (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
S. Carver (Author/Creator) - University of Tasmania
J. Carrucan (Author/Creator) - Parks and Wildlife Service
C. Flanagan (Author/Creator) - Nashotah House Theological Seminary
P. Timms (Author/Creator) - University of the Sunshine Coast
A. Polkinghorne (Author/Creator) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.7(1)
Identifiers: 991005545207307891
Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s).
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

24 Record Views

7 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.248 Sexually Transmitted Infections; 1.248.655 Chlamydia Infections
Web Of Science research areas: Microbiology
ESI research areas: Microbiology