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Metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified psittacosis among poultry processing workers in Shandong Province,

Yuhao Wang1, Aihua Zhang2, Xuemin Wei1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.

Infectious Medicine
|December 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

A rare human infection, psittacosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci, was identified in poultry workers. Metagenomic sequencing and PCR confirmed the outbreak, with poultry identified as the likely source.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Human infection with Chlamydia psittaci, known as psittacosis, is uncommon and challenging to diagnose.
  • Outbreaks of psittacosis are rare but pose significant public health concerns, particularly in occupational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of psittacosis among poultry processing workers in China.
  • To identify the causative agent and the source of human infection.

Main Methods:

  • Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was employed to detect Chlamydia psittaci in patient samples.
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used for subsequent confirmation of the pathogen.
  • Epidemiological investigations were conducted to trace the source of infection.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydia psittaci DNA was detected in samples from all seven patients using mNGS.
  • PCR confirmed the presence of Chlamydia psittaci in four of the seven patients.
  • Epidemiological data strongly implicated the processed poultry in the factory as the source of the human infections.

Conclusions:

  • This study highlights the utility of metagenomic sequencing in identifying rare infectious agents like Chlamydia psittaci during outbreaks.
  • Poultry processing environments can be a source of human psittacosis, emphasizing the need for stringent biosecurity and worker protection measures.
Keywords:
Chlamydia psittaciMetagenomic next-generation sequencingOutbreakPoultry processing factoryPsittacosis

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