The limitations of commercial serological assays for detection of chlamydial infections in Australian livestock. Issue 4 (6th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bommana, Sankhya; Jelocnik, Martina; Borel, Nicole; Marsh, Ian; Carver, Scott; Polkinghorne, Adam
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical microbiology. Volume 68:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 627
• Page End: 632
• Publication Date: 2019-03-06
• Subjects: Chlamydia abortus -- Chlamydia pecorum -- ovine enzootic abortion -- serology -- whole antigen based ELISA -- peptide antigen based ELISA; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000951
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2615

Abstract

Abstract : Chlamydia pecorum and Chlamydia abortus are related ruminant pathogens endemic to different global regions. Potential co-infections combined with the lack of species-specific serological assays challenge accurate diagnosis. Serological screening revealed low C. abortus seropositivity with the peptide-based ELISA (1/84; 1.2%) in Australian sheep yet moderate seropositivity in a Swiss flock with history of C. abortus -associated abortions (17/63; 26.9%). By whole cell antigen complement fixation tests (CFT) and ELISA, chlamydial seropositivity was significantly higher in all groups, suggesting cross-reactivity between these two chlamydial species and non-specificity of the tests. However, only C. pecorum DNA could be detected by qPCR in Chlamydia seropositive Australian animals screened, suggesting chlamydial seropositivity was due to cross-reactivity with endemic C. pecorum infections . These results suggest ascribing Chlamydia seropositivity to chlamydial species in livestock using whole-cell antigen CFT or ELISA should be treated with caution; and that peptide-based ELISA and qPCR provide greater chlamydial species-specificity.