Inter-species transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci from broiler chickens to ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails: an experimental study
10 affiliations
- 1Department of Avian and Rabbit Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
- 2Reference Laboratory for Quality Control on Poultry Production, Department of Poultry Diseases, Animal Health Research Institute, Arish Branch, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Arish, Egypt
- 3Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- 4Department of Diseases of Birds, Rabbits, Fish & their Care & Wildlife, School of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo, Egypt
- 5Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 6Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 7Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- 8Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abidiyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- 9Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- 10Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Abstract
Introduction: Avian chlamydiosis (psittacosis), caused by Chlamydia psittaci, is a contagious bacterial disease of birds with significant economic and zoonotic importance. The infection spreads among avian species and to humans through contaminated secretions, feces, fomites, and close contact, posing challenges to poultry health and public health.
Methods: In the present study, at 1 day old, 90 birds (two chicken groups [one challenged positive control and the other kept unchallenged negative control], ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails) were divided into six equal groups (15 birds/group [species]). The birds were reared in a controlled environment on a deep-litter system, with conditions adjusted to their requirements. On the 7th day of age, the first broiler group (G1) was inoculated in both nostrils with 0.2 ml of C. psittaci at 106 inclusion-forming units (IFU) ml−1. The other four groups of avian species, other than chickens, remained uninfected. When clinical signs appeared in broiler chicks, three infected chicks were transferred to each of the four experimental groups, while the second chicken remained in an unchallenged negative control group.
Results: Clinical signs appeared within 3–5 days post-contact. Turkeys showed the highest overall clinical susceptibility, where depression was observed in 14 of 15 birds (93.3%) and respiratory signs in 13 of 15 birds (86.7%), compared with 6 of 15 birds (40%) in chickens. Ducks, pigeons, and quails showed the lowest susceptibility, with only 5 of 15 birds (33.3%) affected. Postmortem (PM) lesions followed a similar pattern, with turkeys showing the most severe pathological changes. Histopathological examination confirmed inflammatory and degenerative alterations in several organs, particularly in turkeys and ducks. Molecular detection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed bacterial shedding.
Discussion: The current findings indicate that turkeys were the most susceptible species to C. psittaci infection, while chickens showed moderate susceptibility, with responses relatively comparable to ducks, pigeons, and quail, which showed the lowest percentage. Notably, turkeys were the first species to develop clinical signs and exhibited the most severe pathological lesions among the avian species examined. Therefore, it is advisable to enhance biosecurity protocols on mixed-species poultry farms, prioritize surveillance of turkeys given their heightened vulnerability, implement regular molecular monitoring to detect infections early, and segregate avian species during outbreaks to mitigate transmission.
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BibTeX
@article{hegazy2026interspecies,
title = {{Inter-species transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci from broiler chickens to ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails: an experimental study}},
author = {Ahmed M. E. Hegazy and Amira M. Morsy and Heba M. Salem and Jawza A. Almutairi and Hadil Alkathiry and Yasser S. Mostafa and Ibrahim Mufadhi M. Alanazi and Suad Hamdan Almasoudi and Khaled A. El-Tarabily and Hala M. N. Tolba},
journal = {Frontiers in Veterinary Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fvets.2026.1870801},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1870801},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Inter-species transmission of Chlamydophila psittaci from broiler chickens to ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails: an experimental study
AU - Ahmed M. E. Hegazy
AU - Amira M. Morsy
AU - Heba M. Salem
AU - Jawza A. Almutairi
AU - Hadil Alkathiry
AU - Yasser S. Mostafa
AU - Ibrahim Mufadhi M. Alanazi
AU - Suad Hamdan Almasoudi
AU - Khaled A. El-Tarabily
AU - Hala M. N. Tolba
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Veterinary Science
DO - 10.3389/fvets.2026.1870801
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1870801
AB - Introduction: Avian chlamydiosis (psittacosis), caused by Chlamydia psittaci, is a contagious bacterial disease of birds with significant economic and zoonotic importance. The infection spreads among avian species and to humans through contaminated secretions, feces, fomites, and close contact, posing challenges to poultry health and public health. Methods: In the present study, at 1 day old, 90 birds (two chicken groups [one challenged positive control and the other kept unchallenged negative control], ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and quails) were divided into six equal groups (15 birds/group [species]). The birds were reared in a controlled environment on a deep-litter system, with conditions adjusted to their requirements. On the 7th day of age, the first broiler group (G1) was inoculated in both nostrils with 0.2 ml of C. psittaci at 106 inclusion-forming units (IFU) ml−1. The other four groups of avian species, other than chickens, remained uninfected. When clinical signs appeared in broiler chicks, three infected chicks were transferred to each of the four experimental groups, while the second chicken remained in an unchallenged negative control group. Results: Clinical signs appeared within 3–5 days post-contact. Turkeys showed the highest overall clinical susceptibility, where depression was observed in 14 of 15 birds (93.3%) and respiratory signs in 13 of 15 birds (86.7%), compared with 6 of 15 birds (40%) in chickens. Ducks, pigeons, and quails showed the lowest susceptibility, with only 5 of 15 birds (33.3%) affected. Postmortem (PM) lesions followed a similar pattern, with turkeys showing the most severe pathological changes. Histopathological examination confirmed inflammatory and degenerative alterations in several organs, particularly in turkeys and ducks. Molecular detection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed bacterial shedding. Discussion: The current findings indicate that turkeys were the most susceptible species to C. psittaci infection, while chickens showed moderate susceptibility, with responses relatively comparable to ducks, pigeons, and quail, which showed the lowest percentage. Notably, turkeys were the first species to develop clinical signs and exhibited the most severe pathological lesions among the avian species examined. Therefore, it is advisable to enhance biosecurity protocols on mixed-species poultry farms, prioritize surveillance of turkeys given their heightened vulnerability, implement regular molecular monitoring to detect infections early, and segregate avian species during outbreaks to mitigate transmission.
SN - 2297-1769
ER -