Although members of this chlamydial species are common in birds and domestic animals, infections in humans are relatively uncommon.

General Characteristics

C. psittaci differs from C. trachomatis in that it is sulfonamide resistant and in the morphology of its EB and inclusion bodies (see Table 1).

Table1. Differential Characteristics among Chlamydiae  That Cause Human Disease

Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

C. psittaci is an endemic pathogen of all bird species. Psittacine birds (e.g., parrots, parakeets) are a major reservoir for human disease, but outbreaks have occurred among turkey-processing workers and pigeon aficionados. The birds may show diarrheal illness or may be asymptomatic. Humans acquire the disease by inhalation of aerosols. The organisms are deposited in the alveoli; some are ingested by alveolar macrophages and then carried to regional lymph nodes. From there they are disseminated systemically, growing within cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Human-to-human transmission is rare, thus obviating the need for isolating patients if admitted to the hospital.

Spectrum of Disease

Disease usually begins after an incubation period of 5 to 15 days. Onset may be insidious or abrupt. Clinical findings associated with this infection are diverse and include pneumonia, severe headache, mental status changes, and hepatosplenomegaly. The severity of infection ranges from unapparent or mild disease to a life-threatening systemic illness with significant respiratory problems.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Diagnosis of psittacosis is almost always by serologic means. Because of hazards associated with working with the agent, only laboratories with Biosafety Level 3 biohazard containment facilities can culture C. psittaci safely. State health departments take an active role in consulting with clinicians about possible cases. Complement fixation and indirect microimmunofluorescence have been used to detect anti–C. psittaci antibodies in patients with suspected psittacosis infections. Either a fourfold rise in titer between acute and convalescent serum samples or a single IgM titer of 1 : 32 or greater in a patient with an appropriate illness is considered diagnostic of an infection.

Finally, amplification of rDNA sequences using a PCR assay followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was able to identify and distinguish all nine chlamydial species, including C. psittaci.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing and Therapy

 Because C. psittaci is an obligate intracellular pathogen and its incidence of infection is rare, susceptibility testing is not practical in the routine clinical microbiology laboratory. Tetracycline is the drug of choice for psittacosis. If left untreated, the fatality rate is about 20%.

Prevention

Disease is prevented by treating infected birds or by quarantining imported birds for a month.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تشارك بأكثر من 750 إصدارًا في معرض بغداد الدولي للكتاب

تيمنًا بذكرى ولادة الصادقَين (صلوات الله عليهما) شعبة التوجيه النسوي تنظم مسابقة ميدانية لزائرات مرقد أبي الفضل العباس (عليه السلام)

المجمع العلمي ينظّم أنشطةً قرآنية في محافظتي كربلاء والديوانية

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تختتم فعاليات مهرجان رحمة للعالمين الدولي الأوَّل

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

تحذير من الإفراط في شربها.. متى تصبح الماتشا خطيرة؟

من بناء العضلات إلى "تسميم الجسم".. الوجه الآخر للبروتين ؟

دراسة جديدة: مخ الانسان يغتسل أثناء النوم

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المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

مزايا مرآة الرؤية الخلفية ذاتية التعتيم في السيارات

دراسة.. كوكب غريب أمد الأرض بمقومات الحياة !

يهدد عرش هوليود.. أول فيلم رسوم متحركة بالذكاء الاصطناعي

أكبر تغيير منذ سنوات.. هل تكشف أبل النقاب عن "iPhone Air"؟

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Laboratory Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis

Spectrum of Disease of Chlamydia trachomatis

Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Chlamydia trachomatis

Antigenic Structure, Pathogenesis, and Pathology of Bordetella pertussis

Haemophilus influenzae

Campylobacter jejuni

Conventional Phenotypic Tests for Mycobacterial Infections

Genetic Sequencing and Nucleic Acid Amplification for Mycobacterial Infections

Acid-Fast Stains for Mycobacterial Infections

Vibrio Parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio Cholerae

Burkholderia cepacia Complex