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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Composition and Distribution Analysis of Bioaerosols Under Different Environmental Conditions
Published on: January 7, 2019
Evaluation of bioaerosol sampling techniques for the detection of Chlamydophila psittaci in contaminated air
Caroline Van Droogenbroeck1, Marleen Van Risseghem, Lutgart Braeckman
1Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Caroline.VanDroogenbroeck@UGent.be
Abstract:
Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci, a category B bioterrorism agent, causes respiratory disease in birds and psittacosis or parrot fever in man. The disease spreads aerogenically and no vaccines are available for either birds or man. Highly sensitive C. psittaci bioaerosol monitoring methods are unavailable. We evaluated: (1) dry filtration for collecting C. psittaci from contaminated air using different samplers and membrane filters, (2) impingement into different liquid collection media by use of the AGI-30 impinger and the BioSampler and (3) impaction into newly designed C. psittaci media utilizing the MAS-100 aerosol impactor. For personal bioaerosol sampling, we recommend the use of a gelatin filter in combination with the IOM inhalable dust sampler at an airflow rate of 2L/min. This allowed the detection of 10 organisms of C. psittaci by both PCR and culture. For stationary bioaerosol monitoring, sampling 1000L of air in 10min with the MAS-100 impactor and ChlamyTrap 1 impaction medium was most efficient and made it possible to detect 1 and 10 C. psittaci organisms by PCR and culture, respectively. ChlamyTrap 1 in combination with the MAS-100 impactor might also be applicable for bioaerosol monitoring of viruses.
Insights
Sensitive bioaerosol monitoring for Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci is crucial. New methods using gelatin filters or the MAS-100 impactor with ChlamyTrap 1 offer improved detection of this bioterrorism agent.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Public health
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci is a Category B bioterrorism agent causing respiratory illness in birds and humans (psittacosis).
- The pathogen spreads via aerosols, and current monitoring methods lack sensitivity.
- There are no available vaccines for C. psittaci in birds or humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and recommend sensitive methods for Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci bioaerosol monitoring.
- To compare different air sampling techniques including dry filtration, liquid impingement, and impaction.
Main Methods:
- Dry filtration using various samplers and membrane filters.
- Liquid impingement using AGI-30 and BioSampler.
- Impaction using the MAS-100 aerosol impactor with newly designed media (ChlamyTrap 1).
Main Results:
- For personal sampling, a gelatin filter with the IOM inhalable dust sampler (2L/min) detected 10 C. psittaci organisms via PCR and culture.
- For stationary monitoring, the MAS-100 impactor and ChlamyTrap 1 (1000L air in 10min) detected 1 organism by PCR and 10 by culture.
- ChlamyTrap 1 and MAS-100 demonstrated high efficiency for C. psittaci detection.
Conclusions:
- The IOM inhalable dust sampler with a gelatin filter is recommended for personal C. psittaci bioaerosol sampling.
- The MAS-100 impactor with ChlamyTrap 1 is the most efficient method for stationary C. psittaci bioaerosol monitoring.
- This impaction method may also be suitable for monitoring airborne viruses.
