Ornithosis

ABSTRACT

MUSHI, E.Z., BINTA, M.G., CHABO, R., NDEBELE, G.R. & PANZIRAH, R. 2001. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila psittaci in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) at Sebele, Gaborone, Botswana. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 68:159-161

High antibody titres to Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila psittaci were demonstrated in serum collected from domestic pigeons at average titres of 1:128 and 1:64 respectively. The public health implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: Antibodies, Botswana, domestic pigeons, Chlamydophila psittaci, Toxoplasma gondii

INTRODUCTION

In Botswana, pigeons (Columba livia domestica) are kept for meat by some households, not only in suburban but also rural households (Mushi, Binta, Chabo, Mathaio & Ndebele 1999). Although they are often kept in cages and fed on scraps of left-over foods or given food ad libitum, they often fly out in search of more food and can therefore considered to be feral pigeons. Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the family Sarcocystidae of the subclass Coccidiacina. The definitive hosts of this parasite are the domestic cat and other Felidae (Stewart & Turner 1994). Cats are infected when they ingest cysts contained in tissues of intermediate hosts, such as mice and birds, as well as by the ingestion of sporulated oocysts in faecally contaminated soil (Frenkel 1978). Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, a cosmopolitan protozoan infection in the human population, varies between 20-40 % (Dubey 1987). Chlamydophila psittaci, the cause of ornithosis, a respiratory tract infection in psittacine and non-- psittacine birds, also infects humans (Pienaar & Schutte 1994).

Although reports of abortions due to chlamydiosis and toxoplasmosis among sheep and goats in this country during winter have been published (Binta, Mushi & Adorn 1996; Binta, Mushi, Raborokgwe, Monyane & Ndebele 1996; Binta, Monyame, Ndebele, Mushi & Raborekgwe 1998), the diagnosis was based only on seroprevalence and not on isolation or demonstration of the pathogens.

There is a paucity of information regarding the antibody status of pigeons pertaining to T gondii and C. psittaci in domestic pigeons in Botswana. In the present study, the seroprevalence of these organisms in pigeons kept in Sebele, Gaborone, was determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen pigeons kept at Sebele stated to be 12 km north of Gaborone, were used in the present study. Blood was collected from the brachial vein into vacutainer tubes without anticoagulant. The blood was allowed to clot, and the serum was separated by centrifugation and stored at -20 deg C.

Antibodies to C. psittaci were determined using the complement fixation test as prescribed by the manufacturers of the kits (Behringwerke AG, Germany) while antibodies to T gondii were determined by an indirect haemagglutination test using commercial kits (Cellognost Toxoplasmosis Behringwerke AG, Germany).

RESULTS

All 16 pigeons tested had antibodies to T. gondii thus representing a seroprevalence of 100%. While 11 pigeons had a titre 1:128, five had a titre of 1:64 with a reciprocal range of 64-128.

Seven out of 16 pigeons had antibodies to C. psittaci giving a seroprevalence of 43.8%. Two out of seven sera had a titre of 1:256 whereas the remainder had a titre of 1:64.

DISCUSSION

Toxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitic infections in warm blooded animals, is cited as an important parasitic disease of pigeons (Zwart 1986; Gosbell, Ross & Turner 1990). However, the only definitive hosts are domestic and wild cats (Frenkel 1978; Dubey 1987). The ingestion of undercooked meat containing tissue cysts or oocysts from feline faeces are the two major modes of post-natal infection with T gondii. The finding of high titre antibodies to both T gondii and C. psittaci in domestic pigeons was strongly suggestive of contamination of the pigeon feed with Toxoplasma oocysts infective material from cases of toxoplasmosis. Authors in other countries have also demonstrated antibodies to T. gondii in pigeons (Ibrahim, Hassanin, Aly & Abdel 1995).

Avian chlamydiosis (ornithosis and psittacosis) is a significant disease of Columbiformes and is also a serious zoonosis (Kaminjolo, Tikasingh & Ferdnand 1988; Gosbell et aL 1990; Rajesh-Chahota, Joshi & Chahota 1997). A variety of pathological lesions have been described in affected pigeons (Forsyth & Beddome 1981).

In the present study, high titre antibodies to C. psittaci ranging from 1:64 to 1:160 were obtained using the complement fixation test. A seroprevalence rate of 43.8 % was obtained in the domestic pigeons in Sebele location, Botswana. This seroprevalence rate is relatively higher than that reported for feral pigeons in Japan (Fukushi, Itoh, Ogawa, Hayashi, Kuzuya, Hirai & Shimakura 1983; Chiba, Arikawa, Kakashima & Hashimoto 1984). In the Japanese studies antibodies to C. psittaci were demonstrated in only half of the pigeons from which the chlamydial organisms were isolated. Reports of avian chlamydiosis in species other than the pigeons have been cited (Anderson 1992; Arzey & Arzey 1990; Arzey, Arzey & Reece 1990).

Close association between pigeons and the human population may predispose the latter to zoonotic infections (Kaminjolo et aL 1988). In the present study, it is possible that the pigeons contracted these organisms from the homesteads in which cats were kept. Pregnant women are in great danger of acquiring chlamydial infections from infected animals (Eddy & Hyna 1986) and a fatal automobile crash has been found to have been caused in a person suffering from cerebral toxoplasmosis (Gyori & Hyna 1998). Because the pigeons carry T. gondii and C. psittaci without manifesting obvious signs of disease, they may be considered as a potential source of infection to pigeon keepers and veterinarians, particularly those who are suffering from immunosuppression caused by the human immunosuppresion virus. The public health implications of these findings should be communicated to the public at large.

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E.Z. MUSHI1, M.G. BINTA2, R.G. CHABO1, R. NDEBELE1 and R. PANZIRAH1

1 Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

2 National Veterinary Laboratory, Private Bag 0035, Gaborone, Botswana

Accepted for publication 12 March 2001-Editor

Copyright Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute Jun 2001
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