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
| Chlamydophila psittaci Learning Resources | |
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 Selection of relevant videos |
Radiograph of an African Grey Parrot with hepatomegaly |