RESUMO
In the central area of Argentina, the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infections in reptiles are still unknown. A nested polymerase chain reaction of the rpoB gene was used to detect C. pneumoniae in cloacal swab samples from 19 reptiles at a recreational area. Eleven (57.89%) reptiles were positive; the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of this bacterium. Neither C. pneumoniae DNA in the caregivers pharynges nor IgM antibodies anti-C. pneumoniae in their serum samples were detected; however, caregivers presented very high titers of IgG anti-C. pneumoniae. The detection of C. pneumoniae DNA in reptiles demonstrated the circulation of this agent in the recreational area and could be responsible for the exacerbated immune response of the personnel handling the reptiles, which suggests a potential zoonotic cycle. This is the first report of the detection of C. pneumoniae in reptiles in Argentina.
Assuntos
Infecções por Chlamydophila/veterinária , Chlamydophila pneumoniae/isolamento & purificação , Reservatórios de Doenças/microbiologia , Répteis/microbiologia , Criação de Animais Domésticos , Animais , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Argentina/epidemiologia , Boidae/microbiologia , Bothrops/microbiologia , Infecções por Chlamydophila/epidemiologia , Infecções por Chlamydophila/microbiologia , Chlamydophila pneumoniae/genética , Chlamydophila pneumoniae/imunologia , Cloaca/microbiologia , DNA Bacteriano/análise , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Elapidae/microbiologia , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Exposição Ocupacional , Faringe/microbiologia , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Tartarugas/microbiologia , ZoonosesRESUMO
En la región central de Argentina, las características epidemiológicas y moleculares de las infecciones por Chlamydophila pneumoniae en reptiles son desconocidas. Para detectar C. pneumoniae, se usó la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa anidada que amplifica el gen rpoB en muestras de hisopado cloacal de 19 reptiles. Once (57,89 %) reptiles resultaron positivos. La secuenciación y el análisis filogenético corroboraron la presencia de esta bacteria. No se detectó ADN de C. pneumoniae en la faringe ni IgM anti-C. pneumoniae en el suero de los cuidadores; sin embargo, ellos presentaron títulos muy elevados de IgG anti-C. pneumoniae. La detección de ADN de C. pneumoniae en los reptiles demostró la circulación de este agente en el centro recreativo donde se realizó este estudio, lo que podría explicar la exacerbada respuesta inmunitaria en los cuidadores; este hallazgo sugiere la presencia de un potencial ciclo zoonótico. Se reporta aquí por primera vez la detección de C. pneumoniae en reptiles en Argentina
In the central area of Argentina, the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infections in reptiles are still unknown. A nested polymerase chain reaction of the rpoB gene was used to detect C. pneumoniae in cloacal swab samples from 19 reptiles at a recreational area. Eleven (57.89%) reptiles were positive; the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the presence of this bacterium. Neither C. pneumoniae DNA in the caregivers'pharynges nor IgM antibodies anti-C. pneumoniae in their serum samples were detected; however, caregivers presented very high titers of IgG anti-C. pneumoniae. The detection of C. pneumoniae DNA in reptiles demonstrated the circulation of this agent in the recreational area and could be responsible for the exacerbated immune response of the personnel handling the reptiles, which suggests a potential zoonotic cycle. This is the first report of the detection of C. pneumoniae in reptiles in Argentina
