Psittacosis (Chlamydophila psittaci)

Published on 22/03/2015 by admin

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Last modified 22/03/2015

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Chapter 219 Psittacosis (Chlamydophila psittaci)

Chlamydophila psittaci, the agent of psittacosis (also known as parrot fever and ornithosis), is primarily an animal pathogen and causes human disease oncommonly. In birds, C. psittaci infection is known as avian chlamydiosis.

Etiology

C. psittaci affects both psittacine birds (e.g., parrots, parakeets, macaws) and nonpsittacine birds (ducks, turkeys); the known host range includes 130 avian species. The life cycle of C. psittaci is the same as for Chlamydophila pneumoniae (Chapter 217). Strains of C. psittaci have been analyzed by patterns of pathogenicity, inclusion morphology in tissue culture, DNA restriction endonuclease analysis, and monoclonal antibodies, which indicate that there are 7 avian serovars. Two of the avian serovars, psittacine and turkey, are of major importance in the avian population of the USA. Each is associated with important host preferences and disease characteristics.