Influence of Chlamydia suis on reproductive outcome in farms with and without tetracycline treatment of sows
Abstract
Porcine genital chlamydiosis is considered a potential cause of reproductive failure, with Chlamydia (C.) suis being the most prevalent chlamydial species. To assess its pathogenic relevance, 50 Austrian piglet-producing farms were investigated: 40 farms with reproductive disorders (20 with tetracycline-treatment (tet), 20 without (no-tet)) and 10 clinically unaffected control farms. Samples from 770 sows (tet: n = 333, no-tet: n = 337, control: n =100) including blood, cervical and rectal swabs, dust samples and one pooled nursery fecal sample per farm were analyzed. Thirty-seven reproductive-tracts and six abortion cases were examined. Species-specific real-time PCR detected cervical C. suis shedding in 2.1% of sows (tet: n =5, no-tet: n = 10, control: n = 1). Rectal shedding was found on 45 farms and in 39.7% of sows overall (tet: n = 37.8%, no-tet: n = 39.2%, control: n = 48%). C. pecorum DNA was identified in one cervical and seven rectal swabs. Chlamydiaceae-specific antibodies were detected by complement fixation test on all farms and in 49.8% of sows overall, without association between study group and shedding or serological status. C. suis DNA was detected in 28% of dust and 96% of nursery fecal samples, whereas reproductive tract and abortion material were largely PCR-negative. Analyzing 42 C. suis isolates high rates of tetracycline resistance were found in all study groups via tetA(C) PCR (tet: n = 93.75%, no-tet: n = 78.3%, control: n = 100%) and in vitro susceptibility testing (tet: n = 75%, no-tet: n = 60.8%, control: n = 100%). Parity had negative effects on clinical signs, rectal shedding and antibody expression. C. suis appears to play a limited role in reproductive failure, while routine tetracycline treatment should be critically reconsidered due to frequent resistance.
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BibTeX
@article{baumgartner2026influence,
title = {{Influence of Chlamydia suis on reproductive outcome in farms with and without tetracycline treatment of sows}},
author = {Gertrude Baumgartner and René Brunthaler and Lara Ergin and Michaela Koch and Manolis Lyrakis and Karoline Waldner and Andrea Buzanich-Ladinig and Christine Unterweger},
journal = {Veterinary Research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s13567-026-01831-w},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05737987v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Influence of Chlamydia suis on reproductive outcome in farms with and without tetracycline treatment of sows
AU - Gertrude Baumgartner
AU - René Brunthaler
AU - Lara Ergin
AU - Michaela Koch
AU - Manolis Lyrakis
AU - Karoline Waldner
AU - Andrea Buzanich-Ladinig
AU - Christine Unterweger
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - Veterinary Research
DO - 10.1186/s13567-026-01831-w
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05737987v1
AB - Porcine genital chlamydiosis is considered a potential cause of reproductive failure, with Chlamydia (C.) suis being the most prevalent chlamydial species. To assess its pathogenic relevance, 50 Austrian piglet-producing farms were investigated: 40 farms with reproductive disorders (20 with tetracycline-treatment (tet), 20 without (no-tet)) and 10 clinically unaffected control farms. Samples from 770 sows (tet: n = 333, no-tet: n = 337, control: n =100) including blood, cervical and rectal swabs, dust samples and one pooled nursery fecal sample per farm were analyzed. Thirty-seven reproductive-tracts and six abortion cases were examined. Species-specific real-time PCR detected cervical C. suis shedding in 2.1% of sows (tet: n =5, no-tet: n = 10, control: n = 1). Rectal shedding was found on 45 farms and in 39.7% of sows overall (tet: n = 37.8%, no-tet: n = 39.2%, control: n = 48%). C. pecorum DNA was identified in one cervical and seven rectal swabs. Chlamydiaceae-specific antibodies were detected by complement fixation test on all farms and in 49.8% of sows overall, without association between study group and shedding or serological status. C. suis DNA was detected in 28% of dust and 96% of nursery fecal samples, whereas reproductive tract and abortion material were largely PCR-negative. Analyzing 42 C. suis isolates high rates of tetracycline resistance were found in all study groups via tetA(C) PCR (tet: n = 93.75%, no-tet: n = 78.3%, control: n = 100%) and in vitro susceptibility testing (tet: n = 75%, no-tet: n = 60.8%, control: n = 100%). Parity had negative effects on clinical signs, rectal shedding and antibody expression. C. suis appears to play a limited role in reproductive failure, while routine tetracycline treatment should be critically reconsidered due to frequent resistance.
SN - 0928-4249
SN - 1297-9716
ER -