For general laboratory and research use only
Chlamydophila psittaci is an obligate, Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium that infects
several bird species and was previously classified as Chlamydia psittaci. Its genome is a
circular DNA chromosome with a circular plasmid of 7553 nucleotides encoding genes for
the outer membrane proteins. Infection with this bacterium causes Psittacosis, an infection
that in birds is also called parrot fever and in humans can lead to pneumonia or ornithosis.
C. psittaci is transmitted in respiratory droplets in an elementary body form which is not
active. the droplets are inhaled providing the bacteria access to a new host. The
elementary body attaches to cells of the respiratory tract via the bacterial outer membrane
protein (Omp1) and are engulfed by phagocytosis. In the endosome, the elementary
bodies transform into reticulate bodies which then undergo binary fission for up to 20 hours
before turning back into elementary bodies. After replication, the endosome is lysed by the
sheer volume of elementary bodies, releasing them to infect nearby host cells.
Signs of avian chlamydiosis include lethargy, anorexia and ruffled feathers. They may also
have nasal or ocular discharge and green to yellow diarrhoea. Symptoms of the disease in
humans include fever, headache, muscle ache and respiratory tract symptoms. Psittacosis
can be treated with antimicrobial therapies including Tetracycline or macrolides. Control
measures to prevent transmission to humans include isolation of newly acquired birds and
implementation of rigorous disinfection measures to prevent the spread of infection.
There are 8 known serovars of Chlamydophila psittaci, and each is associated with a
different Order of birds e.g., serovars A and F in psittacines, B in pigeons and doves, and
C in ducks and geese.
Introduction to Chlamydophila psittaci
Our kit for C.psittaci has been designed for the specific and exclusive in vitro
quantification of this speices and does not detect other Chlamydophila . A highly
conserved sequence within the ompA gene has previously been shown to be a good
target sequence in other clinical real time PCR based studies (Pantchev A et.al.,2009).
The primers and probe sequences in this kit have 100% homology with a broad range of
clinically relevant reference sequences based on a comprehensive bioinformatics
analysis.
The PCR Max qPCR Kit for Chlamydophila psittaci (C.psittaci) genomes is designed for
the in vitro quantification of C.psittaci genomes. The kit is designed to have the broadest
detection profile possible whilst remaining specific to the C.psittaci genome.
The primers and probe sequences in this kit have 100% homology with a broad range of
C.psittaci sequences based on a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis.
If you require further information, or have a specific question about the detection profile of
this kit then please send an e.mail to help@pcrmax.com and our bioinformatics team will
answer your question.
Kit Contents
• C.psittaci specific primer/probe mix (150 reactions BROWN)
FAM labelled
• C.psittaci positive control template (for Standard curve RED)
• Internal extraction control primer/probe mix (150 reactions BROWN)
VIC labelled as standard
• Internal extraction control DNA (150 reactions BLUE)
• Endogenous control primer/probe mix (150 reactions BROWN)
FAM labelled
• RNAse/DNAse free water (WHITE)
for resuspension of primer/probe mixes and internal extraction control DNA
• Template preparation buffer (YELLOW)
for resuspension of positive control template and standard curve preparation
Reagents and equipment to be supplied by the user
Real-Time PCR Instrument
DNA extraction kit
This kit designed to work well with all processes that yield high quality DNA with minimal
PCR inhibitors.
Lyophilised 2x qPCR Mastermix
This kit is designed to be compatible with all commercially available Mastermixes that run
with standard cycling conditions.
Pipettors and Tips
Vortex and centrifuge
Thin walled 1.5 ml PCR reaction tubes