Enzootic abortion of ewes (ovine chlamydiosis)
OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for which you are a designated OIE Reference Laboratory: / Enzootic abortion of ewes(ovine chlamydiosis)
Address of laboratory: / Institute of Veterinary Pathology
University of Zurich
Vetsuisse Faculty
Winterthurerstrasse 268
CH-8057 Zurich
SWITZERLAND
Tel.: / (41-44) 635.85.71
Fax: / (41-44) 635.89.34
e-mail address: /
website: / http://www.vetpathology.uzh.ch
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Andreas Pospischil
Name(including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Nicole Borel
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (Ovine Enzootic Abortion, ovine chlamydiosis) is a notifiable disease in Switzerland. In 2011, 29 cases of chlamydial abortion in sheep and goat have been reported by the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office (FVO). The Institute of Veterinary Pathology (IVPZ) has a permanent quality assurance system and is organized under reference number STS 255 according to accreditation type ISO/IEC 17025.
1. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test / For / Specificity / TotalImmunohistochemistry / Antigen / Family Chlamydiaceae / 55
Real-time PCR / DNA / Family Chlamydiaceae / 1934
DNA microarray (ArrayTube test) / DNA / All 9 chlamydial species / 79
16S rRNA PCR
/ DNA / Order Chlamydiales / 17ELISA (Pourquier ELISA, Idexx)
/ Antibody / Chlamydia abortus / 1100ELISA (ID Screen Chlamydia abortus ELISA, ID Vet)
/ Antibody / Chlamydia abortus / 1462. Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
DNA of several different chlamydial strains is prepared at least monthly at the IVPZ for positive control DNA (real-time PCR and ArrayTube Microarray).
Type of reagent / Quantity supplied nationally/ Quantity supplied to other countries
Control positive serum for Chlamydia abortus / 25 / 25
DNA of several chlamydial strains / - / 8
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3. International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the production and testing of vaccines
a) Establishment and maintenance of a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease and organisation of regular inter-laboratory proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results
Protocols, technical expertise and research results were discussed on the 5th workshop of the National Reference Laboratory for Psittacosis on the topic “Infections with Chlamydia and Coxiella in ruminants – from apathogenic to zoonotic”. This workshop was organized by the other OIE Reference Laboratory for Chlamydiosis (avian and ovine) headed by Dr. Konrad Sachse, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany.
b) Organisation of inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of results
None. National ring trial for Chlamydiosis (ovine and avian) is planned in 2012.
4. Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
There are no international reference standards for laboratory diagnosis of chlamydiosis to date.
Control positive serum for Chlamydia abortus and DNA of several chlamydial strains (Chlamydia abortus, Chlamydia pecorum, Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia suis, Chlamydia trachomatis) were supplied to different national and international laboratories.
5. Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
None.
6. Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control
Epidemiological survey on Chlamydia in wild ruminant species in Switzerland was completed in 2011. The role of Alpine ibex (Capra i. ibex) and chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) as a reservoir and infection source for Chlamydia abortus for domestic sheep and goats as well as for humans was investigated in 2010 (Holzwarth et al., 2011a, b; Marreros et al., 2011). Samples of roe deer (Capreolus c. capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were investigated for Chlamydia and Chlamydia-like organisms in 2011. A very low seroprevalence for C. abortus (0.7%) was found in the investigated red and roe deer. This was in concordance to the above-mentioned previous studies in Alpine ibex and chamois, where the same methods revealed occurrences for Chlamydiaceae of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively (Holzwarth et al., 2011a, b). C. abortus DNA was not found in any deer sample. In summary, wild ruminant species in Switzerland seem not to play an important role as a reservoir host for Chlamydia abortus.
A second study on the influence of commune alpine pasturing on the seroconversion of Chlamydia abortus in the region of Vorarlberg was completed in 2011 (Blumer et al., 2012). The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence within this region and to compare these results with the seroprevalence in the neighboring canton Graubünden as well as to obtain data on the seroconversion after alpine pasturing. Seroconversion for Chlamydia abortus occurred in 5.0 % of animals with corresponding serum samples. Seroprevalence values were comparable to Swiss regions with similar management systems, although the neighboring canton Graubünden is known to have a much more higher seroprevalence of 43 %. In conclusion, the traditional animal exchange between these two regions is not significantly favoring the spread of Chlamydia abortus.
In a third study, bovine abortion from three representative regions of Switzerland were investigated for Chlamydiaceae and for the Chlamydia-like organisms Waddlia and Parachlamydia by different PCR-methods, immunohistochemistry and serology for Chlamydia abortus (Blumer et al., 2011). This study brought evidence for the importance of different members of Chlamydiales in different regions of Switzerland although Waddlia is not occurring in a high prevalence. On the other hand mixed infections with different Chlamydiales as well as with other abortigenic agents could be found.
7. Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the pathogen and the disease concerned
The Institute of Veterinary Pathology (IVPZ) has a permanent quality assurance system and is organized under reference number STS 255 according to accreditation type ISO/IEC 17025. All routine diagnostic methods for Chlamydia are accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025.
8. Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
Review of the chapter 2.7.7. Enzootic abortion of ewes (ovine chlamydiosis) of the OIE Terrestrial Manual 2012.
9. Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
In 2011, 2 researchers from the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia and 1 Professor of Microbiology from the Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran visited the reference laboratory. The 2 researchers from Namibia visited the IVPZ in the context of the OIE Twinning project (ovine Chlamydiosis). The professor from Iran was at the IVPZ for his sabbatical.
All 3 researchers got training in real-time PCR for Chlamydiaceae including internal controls, ArrayTube Microarray for chlamydial species identification, conventional PCR methods targeting different chlamydial genes, immunhistochemical detection of Chlamydia on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens and serologic detection of Chlamydia abortus (two different ELISA kits). Prior DNA extraction on fresh material but also on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material was demonstrated during the meeting.
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
None.
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
Organization of the 9th German Chlamydia Workshop titled “Chlamydial disease: from cell biology to therapy”. The meeting venue was the Centro Stefano Franscini on the Monte Verità in Ascona, TI, Switzerland and the workshop took place from February 22nd to the 25th, 2011. The meeting was organized by Prof. A. Pospischil and Dr. N. Borel (Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Switzerland). Co-organizers were Prof. G. Greub (Microbiology Institute, University of Lausanne, Switzerland) and Prof. G. Häcker (Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany). Participants (n=97) were from Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, the US, Austria and Switzerland. The program consisted of 6 keynote lectures, 32 oral presentations and 15 poster presentations.
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
Two collaborative studies were conducted in 2011. 796 serum samples of sheep on commune alpine pastures in the region of Vorarlberg were investigated by a commercial ELISA kit for antibodies against Chlamydia abortus to assess the seroprevalence within this region and to compare these results with the seroprevalence in the neighboring canton Graubünden as well as to obtain data on the seroconversion after alpine pasturing (Partner: University of Vienna). In the second study, 343 bovine abortion cases were investigated for Chlamydiaceae and for the Chlamydia-like organisms Waddlia and Parachlamydia by different PCR-methods, immunohistochemistry and serology for Chlamydia abortus (Partner: University of Lausanne).
We further participated in at least 7 other studies co-ordinated by other institutions: two studies on the role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Waddlia chondrophila in human miscarriage (Coordinator: University of Lausanne), study on Chlamydia psittaci infection in nongastrointestinal extranodal MALT lymphomas in humans (Coordinator: University of Graz), two studies on the role of abortive agents in Alpine ibex and chamois (Coordinator: University of Berne), study on the molecular detection of Chlamydia-like organisms in cattle drinking water (Coordinator: Moredun Research Institute) and study on experimental infection with different Chlamydia psittaci strains (Coordinator: University of Ghent).
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)
¡ Presentations at international conferences and meetings
- Baud D, Goy G, Osterheld MC, Borel N, Vial Y, Pospischil A, Greub G: Waddlia chondrophila: from bovine abortion to human miscarriage. 9. Deutscher Chlamydienworkshop, Ascona, Schweiz, 2011 (presentation).
- Blumer S, Greub G, Waldvogel A, Hässig M, Thoma R, Tschuor A, Pospischil A, Borel N: Waddlia, Parachlamydia and Chlamydiaceae in bovine abortion. 29th Meeting of the ESVP and ESVP and 9th European Congress of Toxicologic Pathology, „Cutting Edge Pathology“, Uppsala, Sweden, 2011 (presentation).
- Borel N: Vorkommen und Bedeutung von Chlamydien beim Schwein. Jahreskongress Vets 2011 der Gesellschaft Schweizerischer Tierärzte, Davos, 2011 (presentation).
- Borel N, Greub G, Waldvogel A, Hässig M, Thoma, R, Tschuor A, Pospischil A, Blumer S: Waddlia, Parachlamydia und Chlamydiaceae in Rinderaborten. 5. Arbeitstagung des Nationalen Referenzlabors für Psittakose, Jena, Deutschland, 2011 (presentation).
- Holzwarth N, Regenscheit N, Pospischil A, Borel N: Chlamydiaceae in wild ruminants. Fifth Biennal Meeting of the Chlamydia Basic Research Society, Redondo Beach, California, USA, 2011 (poster).
- Pospischil A, Kaiser C, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Lutz H, Hilbe M, Vaughan L, Borel N: Chlamydia in the Serengeti. Fifth Biennal Meeting of the Chlamydia Basic Research Society, Redondo Beach, California, USA, 2011 (poster).
- Regenscheit N, Holzwarth N, Pewsner M, Pospischil A, Vaughan L, Borel N: Chlamydiae in alpine chamois and ibex from Grisons, Switzerland. 9. Deutscher Chlamydienworkshop, Ascona, Schweiz, 2011 (presentation).
¡ Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Aigelsreiter A, Gerlza T, Deutsch AJ, Leitner E, Beham-Schmid C, Popper H, Borel N, Pospischil A, Raderer M, Kessler HH, Neumeister P: Chlamydia psittaci infection in nongastrointestinal extranodal MALT lymphomas and their precursor lesions. Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Jan;135(1):70-75.
- Baud D, Goy G, Osterheld MC, Borel N, Vial Y, Pospischil A, Greub G: Waddlia chondrophila: from bovine abortion to human miscarriage. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 April 14.
- Baud D, Goy G, Jaton K, Osterheld MC, Blumer S, Borel N, Vial Y, Hohlfeld P, Pospischil A, Greub G: Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in miscarriage. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Sep;17(9):1630-5.
- Blumer S, Greub G, Waldvogel A, Hässig M, Thoma R, Tschuor A, Pospischil A, Borel N: Waddlia, Parachlamydia and Chlamydiaceae in bovine abortion. Vet Microbiol 2011. Sep 28;152(3-4):385-93.
- Borel N, Pospischil A, Dowling RD, Dumrese C, Gaydos CA, Bunk S, Hermann C, Ramirez JA, Summersgill JT. Antigens of persistent Chlamydia pneumoniae within coronary atheroma from patients undergoing heart transplantation. J Clin Pathol. 2011 Nov 2. [Epub ahead of print].
- Borel N, Regenscheit N, Di Francesco A, Donati M, Markov J, Masserey Y, Pospischil A. Selection for tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis in treated pigs. Vet Microbiol. 2011 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print]
- Holzwarth N, Pospischil A, Marreros N, Ryser-Degiorgis MP, Mavrot F, Frey J, Thoma R, Borel N: Alpine ibex (Capra i. ibex) is not a reservoir for chlamydial infections of domestic ruminants and humans. Eur J Wildl Res. 2011a 57:233-240.
- Holzwarth N, Pospischil A, Mavrot F, Vilei EM, Hilbe M, Zlinszky K, Regenscheit N, Pewsner M, Thoma R, Borel. N: Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae, Mycoplasma conjunctivae and pestiviruses in Alpine chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra) of Grisons, Switzerland. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2011b Mar;23(2):333-337.
- Marreros N, Hüssy D, Albini S, Frey CF, Abril C, Vogt HR, Holzwarth N, Wirz-Dittus S, Friess M, Engels M, Borel N, Willisch CS, Signer C, Hoelzle LE, Ryser-Degiorgis MP: Epizootiologic investigations of selected abortive agents in free-ranging alpine ibex (Capra i. ibex) in Switzerland. J Wildlif Dis. 2011 Jul;47(3):530-43.
- Sostaric-Zuckermann IC, Borel N, Kaiser C, Grabarevic Z, Pospischil A. Chlamydia in canine or feline coronary arteriosclerotic lesions. BMC Res Notes. 2011 Sep 9;4:350.
- Wheelhouse N, Sait M, Gidlow J, Deuchande R, Borel N, Bailey J, Caldow G, Longbottom D: Molecular detection of Chlamydia-like organisms in cattle drinking water. Vet Microbiol. 2011 Aug 26;152(1-2):196-9.
______
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011 5