Zoonotic Avian Infections

Key Points

  • Individuals that work or live with birds may be at risk for zoonotic diseases.
  • Psittacosis in humans may range from asymptomatic infection to flu-like signs to severe disease including pneumonia.
  • The most important route of Salmonella spp. transmission is eating incompletely cooked food and drinks; however humans may also be infected from poultry and free-living birds.
  • Allergic alveolitis is a serious, under-recognized condition, that may affect bird owners after exposure to feather antigen.
  • Most human West Nile virus infections are asymptomatic although mild influenza-like signs may be seen in about 20%. A small proportion (less than 1%) develop more severe neurologic disease which is sometimes fatal.
  • Avian influenza may cause severe disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system and high mortality.
  • As avian veterinarians, we are all on the front line for identifying avian influenza. Train staff to recognize clinical signs and answer questions.
  • Immunocompromised individuals commonly contract Mycobacterium aviuminfection from contaminated soil. Infection from birds is extremely rare.

An average 250 human cases of Chlamydophila psittaci are reported annually in the United States. Clinical signs typically follows a 5 to 14 day incubation period. Disease ranges from subclinical to systemic illness with severe pneumonia. Most people demonstrate sudden onset fever, headache, malaise, and myalgia with a non-productive cough that can be accompanied by breathing difficulty and chest tightness. Splenomegaly and . . .


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References

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CDC. Summary of notifiable diseases, United States, 2001. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 50(53):1-108, 2003.

Hughes C, Maharg P, Rosario P, et al. Possible nosocomial transmission of psittacosis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 18(3):165-168, 1997.

CDC. Case definitions for infectious conditions under public health surveillance.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 46(RR-10):27, 1997.

CDC. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at:www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/psittacosis_t.htm. Accessed Jan 14, 2009.

Schlossberg D. Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (eds). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of infectious Diseases. 5th ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone Inc, 2000;2004-2006.

Fudge AM. Avian chlamydiosis. In: Rosskopf WJ Jr, Woerpel RW (eds). Diseases of Cage and Aviary Birds. Baltimore: The Williams & Wilkins Co, 1996;572-585.

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Powers LV, Flammer K, Papich M. Preliminary investigation of doxycycline plasma concentration in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) after administration by injection or in water or feed. J Avian Med Surg 14:23-30, 2000.

Flammer K, Whitt-Smith D, Papich M. Plasma concentrations of doxycycline in selected psittacine birds when administered in water for potential treatment ofChlamydophila psittaci infection. J Avian Med Surg 15:276-282, 2001.

Gylsdorff L. The treatment of chlamydiosis in psittacine birds. Israel J Vet Med43:11-19, 1987.

Flammer K, Aucoin DP, Whitt DA, et al. Potential use of long-acting injectable oxytetracycline for treatment of chlamydiosis in Goffin’s cockatoos. Avian Dis34:228-234, 1990.

Arnstein P, Eddie B, Meyer KF, et al. Control of psittacosis by group chemotherapy of infected parrots. Am J Vet Res 11:2213-2227, 1968.

Landgraf WW, Ross PF, Cassidy DR, et al. Concentration of chlortetracycline in the blood of Yellow-Crowned Amazon parrots fed medicated pelleted feeds. Avian Dis26:14-17, 1982.

Flammer K, Cassidy DR, Landgraf WW, et al. Blood concentrations of chlortetracycline in macaws fed medicated pelleted feed. Avian Dis 33:199-203, 1989.

Arnstein P, Buchanan WG, Eddie B, et al. Chlortetracycline chemotherapy for nectar-feeding birds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 154:190-191, 1969.

Model Aviary Program (MAP). Available at: www.modelaviculture.org/. Accessed Oct 13, 2004.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Workplace safety & health topics: Respirators. Available at:www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/. Accessed Oct 13, 2004.

Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992, Title I of PL 102-440. 16 US Code 4901-4916. Available at: edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/50cfr15.1.htm. Accessed Jan 14, 2009.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. 9 CFR Part 93. Importation of certain animals, birds, and poultry, and certain animal, bird, and poultry products; requirements for means of conveyance and shipping containers. Subpart A—birds. Code of Federal Regulations, 1999:100-106.

To cite this page:

Forbes N. Zoonotic avian infections. January 29, 2008. LafeberVet Web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/zoonotic-avian-infections/