Wild pigeons and pheasants--a source of Chlamydophila psittaci for humans and animals

The authors present results of serological examination in 275 pheasants (Phaisanus colchicus) and 273 pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) for the presence of Chlamydophila (Ch) psittaci IgG antibodies. Using micromethod of complement fixation (CF) test with genus-specific antigen Ch. psittaci (Bioveta, Ivanovice na Hané, Czech Republic), the seropositivity in pheasants oscillated between 31.5-40.4 %. No clinical signs of chlamydiosis were detected in pheasants under study. The seropositivity in pigeons ranged between 33.1-85.1%. Total 77.1% positivity with maximal 1:1024 antibody titre was found in 83 pigeons caught in April 2000, while, in June 2000 positivity was 41.0% with maximum titre 1: 512. Similarly, in the year 2001 the seropositivity in the group of 74 pigeons trapped in April reached up to 85.1% with the highest titre 1:1024 and in the pigeons trapped in June positivity decreased to 33.3% with the titer 1:256. These results prove an acute form of chlamydiosis and suggest that pigeons in spring time are an especially significant source of chlamydiosis for the human and animal population.