Chlamydial abortion in sheep: possibilities of serological diagnosis using a competitive ELISA and insight into the epidemiological situation in Switzerland

摘要

466 serum samples from 19 sheep flocks in Switzerland were examined for antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci serotype 1 using a competitive ELISA. Additionaly, 30 faecal samples from 2 of these flocks were examined using polymerase chain reaction for evidence of chlamydial DNA. One of these samples contain DNA of C. psittaci serotype 1. It is suggested that in Switzerland C. psittaci is widespread both as a cause of chlamydial abortion and as latent intestinal infection in sheep.