Chlamydophila psittaci

• Causes notifiable psittacosis in birds
• Epidemiology:
  • Many wild and domestic birds susceptible
  • Organisms present in respiratory secretions and faeces of infected birds
  • Infection via inhalation or ingestion
  • Subclinical infection common
  • Intermittent shedding for prolonged periods
  • Stress precipitates disease outbreaks
• Clinical signs:
  • Generalised infection affecting intestinal and respiratory tracts
  • Up to 10 day incubation period
  • Loss of condtion, oculonasal discahrge, diarrhoea and respiratory distress depending on strain
  • Hepatomegaly, airsacculitis and peritonitis
• Diagnosis: stained smears, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, PCR, isolation, antibody detection by ELISA and complement fixation
• Treatment: tetracyclines for several weeks
• Control: quaranteen imported birds and give tetracyclines; good husbandry
• Involved in feline rhinotracheitis together with herpes virus 1
• Zoonotic by aerosol infection - can cause systemic disease with pneumonia, meningitis or meningoencephalitis