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Compendium of psittacosis (chlamydiosis) control, 1997. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection with Chlamydia psittaci, often referred to as avian chlamydiosis (AC), is an important cause of systemic illness in companion birds (i.e., birds kept by humans as pets) and poultry. Infection can be transmitted from infected birds to humans. In humans, infection caused by C. psittaci is referred to as psittacosis, which can result in fatal pneumonia. This compendium provides information on AC (also known as psittacosis, ornithosis, and parrot fever) and psittacosis (also known as parrot disease, parrot fever, and chlamydiosis) to public health officials, veterinarians, physicians, the companion-bird industry, and others concerned with control of the disease and protection of public health. These recommendations provide effective, standardized disease control procedures for AC in companion birds and will be reviewed and revised as necessary.

Animal Feed↗

Compendium of measures to control Chlamydia psittaci infection among humans (psittacosis) and pet birds (avian chlamydiosis), 1998. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Psittacosis -- also known as parrot disease, parrot fever, and ornithosiscan cause severe pneumonia and other serious health problems among humans. Approximately 800 cases of psittacosis (infection with Chlamydia psittaci) were reported to CDC from 1987 through 1996, and most resulted from exposure to pet birds, usually parrots, macaws, cockatiels, and parakeets. In birds, C. psittaci infection is referred to as avian chlamydiosis (AC). Infected birds shed the bacteria through feces and nasal discharges, which can remain infectious for several months. This compendium provides information about psittacosis and AC to public health officials, physicians, veterinarians, members of the pet bird industry, and others concerned about controlling these diseases and protecting public health. The recommendations in this compendium provide effective, standardized procedures for controlling AC in birds, a vital step to protecting human health.

Animals↗

[Psittacosis (chlamydiosis) of birds and the necessity of government disease control].

Psittacosis--induced by Chlamydia psittaci--occurs at present as individual cases but not any more as an endemic or epidemic disease. The diagnosis does not pose unsurmountable difficulties. The dominant sources of infection for men are--unlike in previous times--now budgerigars and cockatiels from domestic breeding sources but also--as far as it is known at all--different domestic mammals. A targeted therapy of diseases in humans and birds is successfully possible with chlortetracycline, doxycycline or fluoroquinolone-containing drugs. Therefore, government-imposed control measures focussing entirely on imported psittacines such as quarantine, long-term medication and possibly eradication of Chlamydia psittaci-positive psittacine birds are not essential any more. It is suggested that psittacosis in birds should not be a notifiable disease any longer. The derogation of mandatory treatment during quarantine is also recommended. Governmental control of psittacosis should be replaced by a privately organized eradication program by breeders.

Animals↗

Severe hepatic damage after acetaminophen use in psittacosis.

A 63-year-old man with acute psittacosis had severe hepatic damage after ingesting about 10 g of acetaminophen over a 48 hour period. Transaminase levels showed striking elevation, with a serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase level of over 15,000 IU/liter, and decreased rapidly, consistent with a toxic insult. No other etiologic agents were identified by history or serologic testing to explain this degree of damage. Liver histologic findings at autopsy showed severe central necrosis. Although psittacosis may infrequently cause a similar pattern of hepatic injury, disease of this severity has not been previously reported. It is postulated that acetaminophen may have accentuated hepatic disease produced by Chlamydia psittaci in this patient.

Acetaminophen↗

Reactive arthritis and psittacosis.

A 54-year old man had severe inflammatory polyarthritis 10 days after the onset of an acute febrile illness that was serologically documented to be psittacosis. The pattern and chronicity of the articular symptoms, the response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and the presence of HLA-B7-CREG strongly suggest that this was a reactive arthritis. The association of psittacosis and reactive arthritis has previously been reported in the British literature, but this may be the first reported North American case.

Arthritis, Infectious↗

Serological cross-reactivity among chlamydial strains in a family outbreak of psittacosis.

Three members of a family of nine persons contracted psittacosis with severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, delirium, hepatitis and renal involvement. A newly purchased cockatiel was probably the primary source of infection but person-to-person transmission is likely to have taken place between twin brothers who shared a bedroom, one of whom had no direct contact with birds. Type-specific chlamydial serological tests identified the infecting agent as Chlamydia psittaci. The highest titres in the initial samples of serum from the patients, however, were to C. psittaci TWAR (Taiwan Acute Respiratory) and serological cross-reactivity among chlamydial strains was demonstrated. This study of a clearly defined outbreak of psittacosis provides useful information for those undertaking larger population surveys of chlamydial disease and emphasises the need for detailed serological investigation of cases.

Adolescent↗

[Severe multiorgan psittacosis in a 10-year-old boy].

UNLABELLED: Psittacosis is rare among children and severe cases appear exceptional. We describe a child with psittacosis and multiorgan involvement. CASE REPORT: T., a ten-year-old boy, was admitted for a prolonged fever associated with meningism. Laboratory tests showed an important inflammatory response, mild renal failure and coagulation disorders. On admission, the chest X-Ray and the cerebrospinal fluid were normal. He rapidly developed shock, acute abdomen, oxygenodependency, pneumonia and bilateral pleural effusion. No improvement was observed after 48 hours of cefotaxime therapy. History revealed the presence of two parrots at home. Treatment by intravenous clarithromycin was therefore initiated. Serology for Chlamydia psittaci was strongly positive. All symptoms disappeared a few days later. CONCLUSION: The case reported was particular for two reasons: severe disease with multi-organ involvement and young age of the patient. We emphasize the need to search for a history of contact with birds in any case of unexplained pneumonia.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Latent viral infection of cells in tissue culture. I. Studies on latent infection of chick embryo tissues with psittacosis virus.

Chick embryo tissues maintained for from 11 to 28 days in Hank's balanced salt solution lost their capacity to support the multiplication of psittacosis virus. The virus however infected such cells, as active multiplication of the virus occurred on the addition of beef embryo extract to this nutritionally poor medium at any period up to 28 days of cultivation in balanced salt solution. The virus remained in a state of latency for as long as 15 days in these starved cells in a non-infectious phase. These results obtained in this in vitro model system for the investigation of latent infections of cells with psittacosis virus suggest that cell nutrition as well as an alteration in the immunological defenses of the host may prove to be an important factor in the activation of latent viral infections.

Chlamydophila psittaci↗

Latent viral infection of cells in tissue culture. IV. Latent infection of L cells with psittacosis virus.

By maintaining L cells in a balanced salt solution of inorganic salts and glucose (BSS) for 2 days or more, they are rendered incapable of supporting the growth of psittacosis virus (6BC), though it infects such cells and is present intracellularly for as long as 3 days in a non-infectious phase. The addition of an enriched medium to such a culture of cells at any time up to 4 days after infection results in the appearance of infectious virus within these cells, which multiplies and is released from the cells, providing the entire period of exposure of such cells to the BSS does not exceed 6 days, following which the cells die. A latent infection with psittacosis virus in a non-infectious phase has been established in a pure line of cells which possess properties of malignancy.

Chlamydophila psittaci↗

Latent viral infection of cells in tissue culture. VI. Role of amino acids, glutamine, and glucose in psittacosis virus propagation in L cells.

Mouse fibroblasts (L cells) fail to support the growth of psittacosis virus (6BC strain) if they are maintained on a medium containing only inorganic salts and glucose for 2 days prior to infection. Virus propagation can be stimulated by the addition of a synthetic medium containing amino acids, water-soluble vitamins, glutamine, glucose, and inorganic salts. By omitting single amino acids from the complete synthetic medium, tyrosine, threonine, methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, leucine, valine, and cysteine or cystine were found to be essential for stimulation, while lysine, arginine, histidine, hydroxyproline, proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, alanine, and glycine were not essential. The cells on deficient media showed varying degrees of degenerative changes, but there was little correlation between ability to support psittacosis virus growth and morphologic condition of the cells. Glucose is also an essential component of the medium for viral growth, but the absence of glutamine had no effect on stimulation of virus propagation. L cell cultures maintained on media deficient in phenylalanine or tryptophan for 2 days before infection were also found to be incapable of supporting virus growth. The implications of this study in latent viral infections are discussed.

Amino Acids↗

A new member of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group of viruses that causes infection in calves.

From portions of intestine and feces of apparently normal calves, a virus that produces elementary bodies was procured in guinea pigs and in embryonated eggs. Morphologically and tinctorially this virus closely resembled members of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group of viruses and it shared a common antigen or antigens with them. Comparison of serological, pathogenic, and other properties indicated that this virus from calves is a new member of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group and in keeping with classification practices it is provisionally named Miyagawanella bovis. Miyagawanella bovis when fed to experimental calves established an infection in the intestinal tract that resembled the inapparent infection seen in natural cases but failed to produce evident disease. Ability of the virus to infect experimental animals by feeding, and its presence in feces of infected animals indicate its natural mode of spread. This method of dissemination and persistence of virus for long periods of time in infected animals suggested the virus should be widespread and more than 60 per cent of the calves in the vicinity of lthaca were found to be infected.

Animals↗

Factors related to the growth of psittacosis virus (strain 6BC). I. Pteroylglutamic acid, vitamin B12, and citrovorum factor.

The inhibitory action of sodium sulfadiazine on the growth of psittacosis virus (6BC) in embryonated eggs is readily reversed by citrovorum factor but not by small amounts of vitamin B(12). In embryonated eggs, the pteroylglutamic acid analogues, 9-methylpteroylglutamic acid and 4-aminopteroylaspartic acid, produced some suppression of the growth of psittacosis virus (6BC). 4-Aminopteroylglutamic add, 4-amino-N(10)-methylpteroylglutamic acid, and 4-aminopteroylaspartic acid inhibited the growth of this virus in tissue cultures at concentrations which were not toxic for the host tissue. The inhibitory action of 4-amino-N(10)-methylpteroylglutamic acid and 4-aminopteroylaspartic acid was readily overcome by addition of citrovorum factor. Growth of meningopneumonitis virus in embryonated eggs or tissue culture is suppressed by 4-aminopteroylaspartic acid. The advantages of the tissue culture technic for studies on the growth of viruses are discussed.

Chlamydophila psittaci↗

Factors related to the growth of psittacosis virus (strain 6BC). IV. Certain amino acids, vitamins, and other substances.

The analogues of amino acids, beta-2-thienylalanine, ethionine, and 6-methyltryptophane, inhibited the growth of psittacosis virus (6BC) in tissue culture without evidence of serious toxicity for the host cells. Of a number of vitamin analogues tested, only salicyl-beta-alanide inhibited viral multiplication in the absence of toxic effects on the host cells. 6,7-Diethylriboflavin, desoxypyridoxine, and oxythiamine reduced viral growth in concentrations that possessed some toxicity for host tissue. In tolerated amounts, 3-acetylpyridine, pyridine-3-sulfonic acid, pantoyl sulfanilamide, and desthiobiotin did not effect viral multiplication. Sodium malonate inhibited psittacosis virus growth in non-toxic amounts, whereas sodium monofluoroacetate was ineffective. Colchicine suppressed multiplication of virus only after a prolonged period of exposure and subsequent delay before producing inhibition, suggesting that the effect was secondary to its antimitotic action which suppressed multiplication of the host cells.

Alanine↗

Studies on the factors essential to the initiation and maintenance of multiplication of psittacosis virus (6BC strain) in deficient cells in tissue culture.

The growth of psittacosis virus (6BC) was studied in cultures of minced whole chick embryo tissue maintained in either Hanks-Simms solution or Hanks's balanced salt solution (BSS), and in neither medium could sustained, long-term virus growth take place. Addition of beef embryo extract (BEE) to cultures at a time when virus multiplication was declining reversed this general trend and resulted in greater virus growth. This virus-stimulating action of BEE was only partially diminished by colchicine, a mitotic inhibitor, indicating that the action of BEE was not due entirely to the development of a larger population of cells as a result of its enhancement of cell proliferation. Chick embryo tissue cultivated for 13 days in BSS prior to infection lost its ability to support the growth of psittacosis virus, but this capacity could be restored by the addition of BEE, alone or with colchicine, at the time of infection. A significant amount of virus was adsorbed to tissue in BSS alone, indicating that the failure of virus to grow in depleted tissue maintained only in BSS after infection was not due entirely to failure of virus to attach to and invade the cells. It was found that an ultrafiltrate and a dialysate of BEE contained the major part of the stimulating capacity of the whole extract, indicating that the active materials were substances of low molecular weights. Autoclaved lactalbumin hydrolysate was an active stimulator, suggesting that the materials responsible for its activity were relatively heat-stable. Since a chemically defined medium (Parker 199) was equally effective in stimulating viral growth, it should be possible eventually to define the chemical nature of the virus stimulators. The implications of the findings are discussed with special reference to their application in the study of tissue tropisms and of latency in viral infections of cells.

Chlamydophila psittaci↗

Psittacosis outbreak in employees of a turkey-processing plant.

In June 1976, 28 employees of a Nebraska poultry processing plant had clinical onset of an illness compatible with psittacosis. The diagnosis was serologically confirmed in 22 patients by fourfold or greater changes in their complement fixation antibody titers, using a Chlamydia group antigen. Lack of serologic response in the remaining patients could not be readily explained by therapy differences, timing of serologic evaluation, or severity of clinical illness. The comparable attack rates in the various processing departments were consistent with an airborne infection. However, results of the investigation also suggested that workers having both frequent contact with turkey tissues and skin injuries were more likely to be infected than other processing workers. The cost of the outbreak for reimbursed medical costs, workmen's compensation, and lost wages was $19,000. A single turkey flock was implicated as the source of infection. This flock had been screened on a voluntary basis for evidence of infection prior to slaughter, using criteria developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Although the preslaughter screening failed to detect psittacosis infection, two turkeys from the same flock which inadvertently had not been sent to slaught were subsequently found to be infected.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical features of 36 cases of psittacosis].

Clinical features of 36 cases of psittacosis experienced from 1980 to 1988 were analyzed. The following results were obtained. 1) Sixteen patients were male; twenty were female. The thirty-six patients ranged in age from 29 to 76 years. 2) Fifteen patients had been exposed to Parakeets prior to the onset of illness. 3) High fever (94.1%) and cough (94.4%) were prominent clinical symptoms. 4) The number of pneumonic foci per lung field by chest X-ray, showed the right inferior lobe was most frequently involved (45.2%). According to the nature of roentgenological shadows, the ground-glass-like shadow was most frequent (70.6%). 5) Leucocytosis was present in only three patients. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were high in many patients. Half of the patients had elevated serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase. 6) All cases were treated with antibiotics and cured. The incidence of psittacosis may be increasing. Therefore, it is useful for clinicians to know the clinical features of this disease. These results may be useful in early diagnosis.

Adult↗

PLAQUE ASSAY FOR PSITTACOSIS VIRUS IN MONOLAYERS OF CHICK EMBRYO FIBROBLASTS.

Piraino, F. (City of Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee, Wis.), and C. Abel. Plaque assay for psittacosis virus in monolayers of chick embryo fibroblasts. J. Bacteriol. 87:1503-1511. 1964.-A tissue culture system for the assay of 6BC psittacosis virus by plaque production on chick embryo fibroblast cells is described. Experiments are given which characterize the specificity of the reaction and identify factors found to cause variations in plaque counts. The statistical data obtained indicate this assay to be a precise and highly reliable procedure for the detection of 6BC virus and antibody.

Antibodies↗

TYPE-SPECIFIC ANTIGENS IN THE PSITTACOSIS-LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM GROUP OF ORGANISMS.

Fraser, C. E. Ovid (University of Wisconsin, Madison), and David T. Berman. Type-specific antigens in the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum group of organisms. J. Bacteriol. 89:943-948. 1965.-Antigens of 14 strains of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum (PLV) group of organisms were prepared by treating purified particles with deoxycholate and trypsin. In complement-fixation tests of these antigens with the homologous and heterologous antisera, specific serotype differences were observed. Application of the method of specificity differences permitted placement of the 14 strains into 7 subgroups. The possible value of these techniques in immunology, epizootiology, and taxonomy of the PLV group is discussed.

Antigens↗