Seroprevalence and Risk Factors ofChlamydiaInfection in Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in China

Abstract

Chlamydiaspp. are obligate intracellular bacteria distributed all over the world, known to cause various forms of diseases in animals and humans. In the present study, a serological survey was conducted to detect the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with rabbit chlamydiosis in northeast China, including Liaoning province, Jilin province, Heilongjiang province, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Antibodies toChlamydiawere determined by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The overall seroprevalence was estimated at 17.88% in total of 800 blood samples. TheChlamydiaseroprevalence varied in domestic rabbits from different factors, and genders of domestic rabbits were considered as major risk factors associated withChlamydiainfection. Our study revealed a widespread and high prevalence ofChlamydiainfection in domestic rabbits in northeast China, with higher exposure risk in female domestic rabbits. These findings suggested the potential importance of domestic rabbits in the transmission of zoonoticChlamydiainfection, and thusChlamydiashould be taken into consideration in diagnosing rabbit diseases. To our knowledge, there is no report ofChlamydiainfection in domestic rabbits in China and the results extend the host range forChlamydia, which has important implications for public health and the local economy.