Psittacosis

The disease Psittacosis is depressingly common amongst pet birds and not uncommonly amongst their owners.

The disease is zoonotic and can affect people severely, various disease syndromes are seen in humans from mild flu-like signs through severe respiratory problems, hepatitis and even death in the elderly.

Clinical experience suggests that cockatiels are very commonly affected and perhaps more commonly infect humans than do the larger parrots.

It is easy to overstate the case and frighten people but there is evidence that the disease is present in the pigeons of Trafalgar Square.

Typical signs in the bird

Common signs are illness and depression with weight loss due to liver disease, which also often tends to make the white urate portion of the dropping turn a yellow colour. Birds often show heavy breathing and look fluffed up, they will often drink more than normal due to kidney problems. Some birds simply show a conjuctivitis.Birds which present more a problem are those which are outwardly healthy or just a little 'off'.

Diagnosis & testing - HOW TO TAKE A SAMPLE

A sick bird which may have the disease will generally be given immediate veterinary treatment. Suitable samples from such birds are cloacal swabs or faeces collected from the cage. In birds with upper respiratory problems or conjunctivitis conjunctival or choanal swabs can be taken.This type of bird may be being checked as a new pet, or before it is included in a collection. Suitable samples from these would ideally be a three-day faecal sample.

Rice grain amounts of faeces should be collected daily for 3 days and pooled in the same sample vial. Select the faecal 'splats' to sample - take anything looser then normal, oddly coloured etc.

Please do NOT simply collect all of the faeces from a bird and send the lot to us. We can't take the responsibility for sub-sampling. We need you to accept the responsibility of taking meaningful samples for testing. This means the right sample taken into the disease sample bottle.

Cloacal swabs can also be taken and may improve detection of carriers. It can also be useful under some circumstances to test blood but the significance is unclear.

The test is not a diagnosis of the disease psittacosis, it detects the organism Chlamydophila psittaci.

A positive result is clear cut, this means that the bird is shedding infective material. It may be ill or a fairly normal looking carrier.

A negative result simply means that there were no organisms in the sample.

Always discuss the testing strategy with an avian veterinarian.

The UK Law - an interpretation!

Psittacosis (also called Ornithosis) is covered by the Psittacosis or Ornithosis Order of 1953. This provides for the detention and isolation of birds and for other powers to prevent the spread of disease. The order, together with the Diseases of Animals (extension of Definition of Poultry) Order 1953, also enables powers of compulsory slaughter to be used, at the Ministers discretion, in respect of poultry affected with, or in any way exposed to, psittacosis/ornithosis. This latter regulation brings 'parrots' within the definition of poultry.

Despite all of this psittacosis is NOT a Notifiable disease. MAFF has always been concerned about this disease because in poultry it can be difficult to decide initially whether one is dealing with Newcastle Disease or Psittacosis. The reason for the Psittacosis Order is to allow restrictions to be placed whilst the authorities decide which disease is present. MAFF are normally happy once they have checked that no poultry are present on the site.

DEFRA in UK have taken the view that as a responsible government body with a view to the 'greater good' and protected by Crown immunity that they can break any confidentiality in notifying the local Medical Officer of Health/Community Physician for the area involved to check on possible human infection. This will often mean a visit from an Environmental Health Officer who may really have little or no knowledge but have lots of worries.

Prevention

Testing of new birds will check for excretors or clinical cases. Serology may be needed to tell you if birds have been exposed previously but are not showing signs. New birds should be screened since treatment of one bird in quarantine is easier than a dozen in adjoining aviaries.

Disinfection is important, we only recommend the use of Vetark ARK-Klens this is an excellent cleanser and disinfectant which is effective against psittacosis

The test is not a diagnosis of the disease psittacosis, it detects the organism Chlamydia psittaci.

A positive result is clear cut, this means that the bird is shedding infective material. It may be ill or a fairly normal looking carrier.

A negative result simply means that there were no organisms in the sample.

The nature of psittacosis is such that affected birds which are relatively well do not shed the organism every day. Taking pooled samples (rice grain amounts) into one sample container daily over 3 days improves detection. Always discuss the testing strategy with your avian veterinarian.

Treatment

It is important to appreciate that this disease can be treated. Published evidence indicates that successful treatment is perfectly possible, periodic re-sampling is generally advisable to monitor the success of treatment.

We cannot be involved in the treatment of birds suffering from this disease. This can only be done by a veterinary surgeon. We are happy to help veterinary surgeons with information on the disease but cannot give advice to bird owners.

We will be pleased to help to put you in touch with an avian veterinarian in your area. Phone our office (0870-243-0384) if you require the name of a local avian veterinary surgeon or refer to the list of exotic vets on the Vetark site.