Symptoms
Possible symptoms include high fever, pneumonia, deep pulse, headache, muscle pain, cough, and shortness of breath. Furthermore, skin rashes, indigestion, lower abdominal pain, and diarrhea may occur. After an attack on the respiratory tract, various organs such as the heart, liver, and digestive tract may be secondarily affected. The disease was first described by Jacob Ritter, who investigated a local outbreak in Uster in 1879 (Ritter, 1880). The name psittacosis is derived from , Greek for parrot.
Cause
The cause of the disease is the obligate intracellular bacterium (formerly: ). It infects numerous bird species, including parrot birds, pigeons, chickens, ducks, and turkeys. They serve as reservoirs for the germ.
Transmission
Transmission occurs by inhalation of contaminated aerosols (e.g., urine, feces, and other secretions) or by direct contact with infected birds. Parrots and pigeons are kept as pets and also come into contact with humans as free-living animals. Other routes of transmission have also been described (bird bites, lawn mowing). Human-to-human transmission is considered possible but rare. The incubation period is 5 to 14 days.
Complications
Rare complications include endocarditis, myocarditis, encephalitis, and jaundice. In pregnant women, severe complications and death of the unborn child are possible.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made under medical treatment. The medical history is of particular importance in this disease: has there been contact with birds?
Drug treatment
Antibiotics from the tetracycline group, such as doxycycline, are mainly used to treat parrot fever. In pregnant women and children, macrolides are used because tetracyclines are contraindicated. Furthermore, the acute symptoms of the disease are also treated symptomatically. Diseased animals are also treated with antibiotics. Animals must be handled with care because they can transmit the infection to humans (protective measures)!
