PROJEKTI
   

Project
Acronym:  
Name: The importance of chlamydia infections in birds for animal and human health 
Project status: From: 2007-10-01 To: 2008-07-01 (Completed)
Contract number: INTAS Ref. Nr 06-1000031-10035 
Action line:  
Type (Programme): MULTILAT 
Instrument:  
Project cost: -
Project funding: -
Project coordinator
Organisation Name: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary faculty 
Organisation adress:  
Organisation country: Slovenija 
Contact person name: Dr. sc. Alenka Dovč 
Contact person email:  
Croatian partner
Organisation name: Veterinarski fakultet 
Organisation address:  
Contact person name: Prof. dr. sc. Estella Prukner-Radovčić
Contact person tel:
  Contact person fax:  
Contact person e-mail: Email 
Partners
Organisation nameCountry
Short description of project
Chlamydophila psittaci (Cp. psittaci) is a unique obligately intracellular bacterium, which is known to be transmissible from birds to humans, causing significant zoonotic infections. Avian chlamydiosis is a very important infectious disease in psittacine, wild and domestic birds which was shown to occur in more than 469 different avian species and which can cause considerable economic loss in the poultry industry. At the same time, cases of zoonotic transmission to humans are regularly happening, but are underdiagnosed and poorly documented throughout Europe. Infections can be life threatening to the affected individuals, particularly in the absence of Cp. psittaci-specific diagnosis. Wild and racing pigeons, psittacine bird trade, and migrations of wild birds may all contribute to the dissemination of chlamydiae throughout avian populations. Species-specific diagnosis of avian chlamydiosis is performed by a few laboratories because of technical difficulties and safety concerns. In the Balkan region, avian chlamydiosis has been continuously present, but genotyping or serotyping of Cp. psittaci have not been conducted. The aim of this collaboration is to exchange experience in new and advanced diagnostic procedures among laboratories in the Balkan region and to establish a collaboration with the National Reference Laboratory for Psittacosis in Jena (Germany), which has been designated the OIE Reference Laboratory for Chlamydioses. The German and French partners will be providing the diagnostic facilities for examination of samples from the Balkan region. These laboratories will perform testing for chlamydiae by real-time PCR and identification by DNA microarray assay, as well as genotyping of Cp. psittaci by a new DNA microarray test. The comparative study of the results received from different laboratories using standard diagnostic methods and tests for avian chlamydiosis will be also conducted. The results will be the basis for a future validation study. 
Short description of the task performed by Croatian partner
  


   

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