Ornithosis (synonyms: psittacosis; parrot disease; ICD-10-GM A70: infections caused by Chlamydia psittaci) is an infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia psittaci (bacteria of the species Chlamydophila psittaci).
The disease belongs to the bacterial zoonoses (animal diseases).
Pathogen reservoirs are birds – especially parrots, pigeons and gulls – but also mammals and humans.
Occurrence: The pathogen is distributed worldwide. In Germany, however, the disease occurs only very rarely (25 cases were reported in 2010).
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs either via direct contact with infectious bird excrement and secretions or aerogenously (inhalation/inhalation).
The pathogen enters the body parenterally (the pathogen does not enter via the intestine), i.e. in this case it enters the body via the respiratory tract (inhalation infection).
Human-to-human transmission: No.
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually 1-4 weeks.
The duration of infectivity (contagiousness) is not known. The disease leaves an immunity lasting for many years.
Course and prognosis: Pneumonia (lung inflammation), which is often atypical, is in the foreground. Rarely, pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) or myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) occur. The course of the disease depends on the age of the patient and his immune status. The course can be favorably influenced by adequate, early therapy (antibiotic administration).
In Germany, direct or indirect detection of the pathogen is reportable by name according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), insofar as the evidence indicates an acute infection.