Abstract
Psittacosis is a severe systemic infectious disease in humans caused by Chlamydia psittaci. While birds are traditionally considered to be the source of C.psittaci, a cluster of five cases of severe respiratory illness that occurred in individuals exposed to equine foetal membranes in Australia signalled the potential for a novel route of infection. The objective of this work was to identify the significance of this putative route of transmission for human disease.
Materials and methods: A coordinated One Health approach, involving stakeholders in each sector, was used to explore the potential risk that equine products of abortion may pose to human health. A cross-disciplinary expert
advisory group led the work, which consisted of a retrospective cohort study in veterinary workers exposed to foetal membranes, an enhanced surveillance system tracing human contacts of equine chlamydiosis cases, and a pilot risk factor study of stud farms in a premier breeding region in Australia. This work was conducted within the context of limited numbers of cases, diagnostic capacity and external funding.
Results: A strong association was made between direct contact with equine foetal membranes and illness (OR= 11.77) in the retrospective cohort study, confirming the membranes as a source. The enhanced surveillance
system was successful in increasing awareness, but despite numerous equine events, did not identify any laboratory-confirmed human cases within the region studied. However, heightened surveillance identified another human cluster in another region associated with exposure to a clinically unwell equine neonate where psittacosis was PCR confirmed. Some management practices were identified to be positively associated with farm likelihood of equine cases: frequent manure removal, increased frequency of feed trough cleaning and bird
sightings at feed sheds.
Conclusion: Equine foetal membranes and critically unwell neonates represent an emerging threat for transmission of C.psittaci to humans.
Materials and methods: A coordinated One Health approach, involving stakeholders in each sector, was used to explore the potential risk that equine products of abortion may pose to human health. A cross-disciplinary expert
advisory group led the work, which consisted of a retrospective cohort study in veterinary workers exposed to foetal membranes, an enhanced surveillance system tracing human contacts of equine chlamydiosis cases, and a pilot risk factor study of stud farms in a premier breeding region in Australia. This work was conducted within the context of limited numbers of cases, diagnostic capacity and external funding.
Results: A strong association was made between direct contact with equine foetal membranes and illness (OR= 11.77) in the retrospective cohort study, confirming the membranes as a source. The enhanced surveillance
system was successful in increasing awareness, but despite numerous equine events, did not identify any laboratory-confirmed human cases within the region studied. However, heightened surveillance identified another human cluster in another region associated with exposure to a clinically unwell equine neonate where psittacosis was PCR confirmed. Some management practices were identified to be positively associated with farm likelihood of equine cases: frequent manure removal, increased frequency of feed trough cleaning and bird
sightings at feed sheds.
Conclusion: Equine foetal membranes and critically unwell neonates represent an emerging threat for transmission of C.psittaci to humans.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages | 98 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
| Event | 15th International Symposium of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics - Chiang Mai, Thailand Duration: 12 Nov 2018 → 16 Nov 2018 |
Conference
| Conference | 15th International Symposium of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics |
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| Country/Territory | Thailand |
| Period | 12/11/18 → 16/11/18 |