Primary pathogenicity of an European isolate of Chlamydia psittaci from turkey poults

Chlamydia psittaci was isolated as the sole pathogenic agent from a severe outbreak of respiratory disease in a commercial broiler turkey farm in the Netherlands. The mortality rate in the flocks was 65%. Clinical signs included conjunctivitis, swelling of the sinus infraorbitalis and sneezing. Cloacal excretion of chlamydia was demonstrated in twelve out of fifteen birds examined by a direct immunofluorescence test. In all the fifteen birds antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci were detected in the sera by a competitive ELISA. At necropsy sinusitis, rhinitis, airsacculitis, pneumonia, pericarditis and enlargement of the liver and spleen were found. Chlamydiae were demonstrated in the sinus material of all and in conjunctival smears of eight of the fifteen examined birds. Chlamydiae were isolated from all the examined birds after one to three passages on Buffalo Green Monkey (BGM) cell cultures using samples taken from lung, liver and spleen. No other pathogens were isolated. The chlamydia isolate was typed using a panel of serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies in a micro-immunofluorescence test. The isolate belonged to the avian Chlamydia psittaci serovar D. Experimental inoculation with this isolate of 7-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) turkeys resulted in severe clinical signs, with mortality and extensive pathological lesions, similar to those seen in turkeys from the examined broiler turkey farm. From the data it was concluded that this Chlamydia psittaci isolate can cause severe disease in turkeys.