Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Chlamydia abortus in Samples from Aborted Ruminants using Primers for Chlamydia psittaci

In this study, the CPsittF(R) and Or1(2) primers, targeting the ompA gene of Chlamydia psittaci, were used for PCR detection of Chlamydia abortus DNA in clinical samples from aborted animals. The sensitivity and specificity of the reaction were compared with those achieved by C. abortus-specific primers CpsiA(B). The comparative analysis of the results showed that all samples that were positive for C. abortus in PCR, performed with primers CpsiA(B) also gave a positive result in the PCR using the CPsittF(R) primers, generating a 1041 bp specific amplification product. PCR amplification using the Or1(2) primers was uncertain and produced an amplification product of 212 bp, which was different from the expected length of 245 bp. In an attempt to improve these primers, their sequence was modified at the 11th and the 21st nucleotide. Although the sensitivity of the reaction performed with the modified primers was improved, it was still lower compared to that achieved with the original C. abortus-specific primers CpsiA(B) and primers CPsittF(R). The results show that the primer pair CPsittF(R), developed for the detection of C. psittaci could be successfully used in the diagnosis of abortions, induced by C. abortus, while the primer set Or1(2) is less effective.