Bird Psittacosis

Psittacosis, caused by an intracellular bacterium known as Chlamydia psittaci, infects birds and humans. Found in infected bird droppings, the bacteria spreads when humans or birds inhale the dry, infected fecal particles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All bird species can harbor psittacosis and pass it on to humans. Outbreaks can occur in pet shop workers, personal bird owners, poultry plant employees and veterinarians. The disease can prove fatal.

  1. Incubation Period

    • Infected birds begin to show symptoms three days to several weeks after exposure. Many birds infected remain asymptomatic but shed the bacteria in their feces for years. Humans who contract psittacosis have an incubation period of one to four weeks, but most people begin to exhibit symptoms after only 10 days, according to the Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health.

    Symptoms

    • Birds infected begin to exhibit loss of appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss, ruffled feathers, nasal discharge and eye discharge. Humans suffer fever, headache, chills, a cough, sensitivity to light and muscle aches. When X-rays are performed, the sufferer often exhibits pockets of pneumonia on the lungs. The disease can quickly progress to affect multiple organs, and renal failure, heart problems, liver disease and encephalitis may develop. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis in birds is made by nasal swabs and fecal samples. A necropsy can also be performed to obtain diagnosis if the bird has passed away. Diagnosis in humans is made by numerous blood tests.

    Treatment

    • Pet birds are prescribed tetracyline or doxycycline for up to 45 days when a diagnosis of psittacosis is made. The owner must administer liquid antibiotics, or the veterinarian will use an antibiotic injection every 10 days, according to Avian Web. Small birds such as parakeets may be prescribed antibiotic-treated seed. Humans are prescribed tetracyline or doxycycline.

    Prognosis

    • Around 50 cases of psittacosis are reported annually in humans within the United States. The mortality rate can be as high as 15 to 20 percent without treatment, but with treatment it is less then 1 percent, according to eMedicine. Older people often suffer the disease more severely. Pet birds that receive prompt treatment also recover well.