New insights into chlamydial zoonoses
Adam Polkinghorne A B C and James Branley A B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, New South Wales Health Pathology, Nepean Blue Mountains Pathology Service, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
B The University of Sydney Medical School, Nepean Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
C Email: adam.polkinghorne@health.nsw.gov.au
D Email: james.branley@health.nsw.gov.au
Microbiology Australia 41(1) 14-18 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA20005
Published: 28 February 2020
Abstract
Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens of humans. Infections in animals are also widespread with some species, such as Chlamydia psittaci, long recognised as a serious threat to human health. Critical to the public health response of any zoonotic disease outbreaks is reliable and up-to-date information on the epidemiology of the target pathogen. Aided by advances in the use of quantitative PCR, molecular typing and culture-independent genomic studies, significant recent work has highlighted an expanded diversity and host range of chlamydial pathogens in animals. New and unexpected cases of chlamydial zoonoses have now been recently documented in Australia and elsewhere, emphasising the importance of multi-disciplinary ‘One Health' collaboration and the use of standardised methods to detect and characterise chlamydial pathogens in humans and animals.
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