Psittacosis, or parrot fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, primarily contracted from pet birds. Symptoms can range from mild illness to severe pneumonia, with treatment involving antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline. Prevention includes avoiding handling sick birds and maintaining cleanliness in bird care environments.

1. SEMINAR ON PSITTACOSIS
PRESENTED BY
P. Asma Afreen

2. DEFINITION
 Psittacosis (parrot fever): An infectious disease due to
a bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci) contracted from
psittacine birds, especially caged birds like parrots,
parakeets, and lovebirds and also in turkey processing
plants.
 Psittacosis can be mild, moderate or severe; some people
may have no symptoms. Older people generally
experience more severe reactions.

3. HISTORY
 1879 - The first outbreak of psittacosis linked the disease to pet parrots and
finches
 1929 – 1930 – 750 human cases with 20% mortality.
 1935 – wild psittacines in Australia
 1980s – 70% of cases due to having caged birds
 1988 – 2006 – 923 cases in US
 2002 – 2006 – 66 human cases of reported to the CDC
 2011 – 2012 – psittacosis outbreak in Tayside,scotland

4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
 Psittacosis can affect any age group and gender, but incidence tends to peak in
middle age, with an age range of 35 to 55.
 The number of report cases of psittacosis in the United States has varied,
ranging from 50 to 200 per year.
 The most recent outbreak being 13 confirmed cases in Georgia and Virginia in
2018.
 The incidence of psittacosis in the United States concluded that during the years
of 1999 to 2006, the reported cases of psittacosis varied between 12 and 25
annually, indicating an incidence of 0.01 per 100,000 population.

5. ETIOLOGY
 Chlamydia psittaci is a type of bacteria that often infects birds. Less commonly,
these bacteria can infect people and cause a disease called psittaAcosis.
 Psittacosis in people is most commonly associated with pet birds, like parrots
and cockatiels, and poultry, like turkeys or ducks.
 C. psittaci are gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria of both mammals
and birds with multiple genotypes which can be sequenced by genotype-
specific real-time PCR for identification and epidemiological studies.

6. TRANSMISSION

7. RISK factors:
People of all ages can get psittacosis, but it is more commonly
reported among adults. Those who have contact with pet birds
and poultry, including people who work in bird-related
occupations, are at increased risk:
 Bird owners
 Aviary and pet shop employees
 Poultry workers
 Veterinarians

8. HISTOPATHOLOGY:

9. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
C. psittaci enters into host through inhaling dust
Initial infection of the alveolar epithelial cells
Multiplication of the bacterium within the host’s epithelial cells
allowing for its virulence and spread
Initiates a complex host response leading to a large influx of neutrophills
thought to be mediated through chemokine release, especially interleukin-
8, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, from the infected host.

10. Activation of an inflammatory cascade and reactive oxygen
species, which triggers further recruitment and accumulation of
phagocytes and immune cells
Result in tissue damage and breakdown of the alveolar-capillary
membrane enabling the hematogenous spread of C. psittaci.
Hypoxemia as well as limitations in lung compliance and
resultant alveolar hypoventilation.

11. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
In people, psittacosis causes mild illness. The most common symptoms
include:
 Fever and chills
 Nausea and vomiting
 Muscle and joint pain
 Diarrhoea
 Weakness
 Fatigue, sweating
 Cough (typically dry)
Psittacosis can also cause pneumonia, a lung infection.Most people
begin developing signs and symptoms within 5 to 14 days. Less
commonly, people report symptoms starting after 14 days.

12. DIAGNOSIS
LABORATORY
 lowered white blood cell count initially during the acute phase of the illness with noted leukopenia
later in the disease course.
 Anemia has also been observed, most commonly attributed to hemolysis.
 Liver function testing, specifically aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, as well as gamma-
glutamyl transpeptidase (AST, ALT, GGT) have also been shown to be variably elevated in
psittacosis.
 Additionally, C-reactive protein (CRP) is variable elevated .
SEROLOGY
 Complement fixation test
 Microimmunofluorescence
 Sputum culture
 X-ray of the chest - unilateral consolidation to bilateral, miliary, interstitial and nodular infiltrates
 Complete blood count
 CT scan of the chest

13. COMPLICATIONS
 Most people treated properly for psittacosis make a full recovery. However, some
people have serious complications and need care in a hospital. Complications
include:
 Serious pneumonia (lung infection)
 Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valves)
 Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
 Inflammation of the nerves or the brain, leading to neurologic problems
 With appropriate antibiotic treatment, psittacosis rarely (less than 1 in 100 cases)
results in death.

14. TREATMENT
 Antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment for individuals with psittacosis.
Tetracycline and doxycycline are usually the first medications used. Most
individuals respond within 24 to 72 hours.
 The treatment with doxycycline uses 100 mg orally or intravenously every 12 hours
for 10 to 14 days.
 Erythromycin may be recommended for children or pregnant women.
 Third line antibiotics active against C. psittaci include fluoroquinolones, which are
less effective than tetracyclines and macrolides.
 In rare cases, individuals have been treated with chloramphenicol.
 Very young children may be treated with azithromycin..

15.  Chlamydia psittaci are sensitive to both macrolides and tetracyclines. However,
tetracyclines are the drugs of choice, unless contraindicated as they are in children,
due to reported macrolide failures.
 In pregnancy and in patients where doxycycline is contraindicated, the infection is
best treated with macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin and erythromycin for a
7-day course.
 After diagnosis, antibiotic treatment typically continues for 10 to 14 days after the
fever resolves.
 Most people who are treated for parrot fever make a full recovery. However,
recovery may be slow in people who are older, very young, or who have other
health issues.

16. PREVENTION
 Avoid unnecessary handling of sick birds.
 Avoid breathing in any dust from dried bird droppings, feathers or cage
dust.
 Isolate sick birds from the rest of the flock.
 Treat infected birds with appropriate antibiotics for at least one month.
 Clean cages with appropriate disinfectants, since the bacteria can live for
several months in shed feathers and droppings.
 Wear masks and gloves while cleaning the cages to prevent infection
 Clean the cages regularly, using plenty of water to minimise the risk of
floating dander.

17.  Always wash hands thoroughly after tending to birds.
 Buy pet birds from reputable pet shops.
 Wash your hands regularly after handling birds or bird supplies.
 Avoid touching a bird’s beak to your mouth or nose.
 Take birds that look sick to the veterinarian.
 Keep birds in a well-ventilated area.

18. REFERENCES
1. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/psittacosis
3. https://healthjade.net/psittacosis/#Psittacosis_causes
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526005
5. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/227025-overview
6. https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/atypical/psittacosis/index.html
7. http://www.antimicrobe.org/new/m03.asp
8. https://www.britannica.com/science/psittacosis