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Psittacosis
Aka: Psittacosis, Chlamydophila psittaci, Chlamydia psittaci, Parrot Fever
- Etiology
- Chlamydophila psittaci (Chlamydia psittaci)
- Bacteria found in wild and domestic birds (5-8% of otherwise healthy birds carry this infection)
- Risk Factors: Transmission
- Pet owners of birds (e.g. Parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, macaws)
- Poultry farmers (turkeys are among the highest risk)
- Poultry processing plants
- Visit to aviary
- Veterinarians
- Pathophysiology: Transmission
- Inhalation of aerosolized infective particles
- Exposure to feces, urine, nasal secretions, feathers, and dust of infected birds
- Some pet owners kiss their birds, therefore transmitting the Bacteria
- Livestock, cats and dogs may act as intermediaries for human infection
- Human to human transmission is rare
- Presentations: Follows 5-15 day Incubation Period
- Subclinical, asymptomatic infection (common)
- Flu-like illness
- Mono-like illness (fever, Pharyngitis, Hepatosplenomegaly)
- Typhoid-like illness (fever, Bradycardia, Splenomegaly)
- Atypical Pneumonia (fever, non-productive cough, Headache)
- Symptoms: Atypical Pneumonia
- Fever (>50% of cases)
- Non-productive cough (>50% of cases)
- Headache (>30% of cases)
- Myalgias and chills
- Signs: Atypical Pneumonia
- Fever
- Pharyngeal erythema
- Pulmonary rales
- Hepatomegaly
- Horder's Spots
- Similar to Typhoid Fever related Rose Spots
- Pink, blaching maculopapular rash
- Complications: Complications are rare
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
- Pericarditis
- Endocarditis
- Hepatitis
- Reactive Arthritis
- Labs
- Complete Blood Count
- Slight Leukocytosis with Left Shift
- Liver Function Tests
- Increased Alkaline Phosphatase
- Blood and Sputum Cultures are not recommended due to risk of transmission
- Diagnosis
- C. Psittaci titers
- Differential Diagnosis
- See Atypical Pneumonia
- See Typhoid Fever
- Imaging: Chest XRay
- Lobar Pneumonia is most common
- Atypical patterns also occur
- Management
- Tetracycline 500 mg orally four times daily for 10-21 days or
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 10-21 days
- References
- Schlossberg in Mandell (2005) Infectious Disease, Chapter 178
- Schlossberg (1993) Arch Intern Med 153:2594-6 [PubMed]
- Yung (1988) Med J Aust 148:228-33 [PubMed]