ANTIBODY PREVALENCE AND ISOLATION OF CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI FROM PIGEONS (COLUMBA-LIVIA)

The isolation of Chlamydia psittaci and serological detection of Chlam ydia-specific antibodies in racing pigeons and pigeons from public par ks is described. Several serological methods (complement fixation test , indirect microimmunofluorescence test, and enzyme-linked immunosorbe nt assay) were compared with bacteriological techniques (isolation bot h in embryonated eggs and McCoy cell monolayers). Tests confirmed that 28.6%, 33.5%, and 35.9% of the pigeons, respectively, were seropositi ve by the tests mentioned above. Chlamydiae were isolated from 13% of the fecal specimens in ovocultures and from 18% of the fecal specimens in cell cultures. No significant differences between the two groups o f pigeons were found (at a 95% confidence level, alpha = 0.05) using t he hypothesis test of the difference between proportions of two popula tions. The serological and bacteriological techniques used are compare d and discussed.