Q107: Which of the following statements are true for Chlamydiosis? (A).... - Zoonoses - Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology- ICAR JRF/SRF 2024 | Agrigyan

• Biology of Chlamydia psittaci (Avian Chlamydiosis / Psittacosis):
• Obligate Intracellular Nature: C. psittaci is an obligate intracellular bacterium requiring host cell ATP for replication. It cannot grow on cell-free artificial media such as blood agar, but requires embryonated chicken eggs or tissue cell culture [Statement A is FALSE].
• Developmental Cycle: Alternates between small, metabolically inactive, infectious Elementary Bodies (EBs) that survive extracellularly and larger, non-infectious, metabolically active, replicating Reticulate Bodies (RBs) within host phagosomes [Statement B is TRUE].
• Reservoir: Psittacine birds (parrots, parakeets, cockatoos) as well as pigeons and turkeys are primary reservoirs [Statement C is TRUE].
• Human Complications: Inhalation of desiccated avian droppings causes psittacosis, which may complicate into hepatitis, culture-negative endocarditis, and severe atypical pneumonia [Statement D is TRUE].

Correct option: (2) (B), (C) and (D) only.