Medical expert of the article
New publications
Chlamydia psittaci
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Chlamydia psittaci ( chlamydia psittaki) causes anthropozoonosis diseases that develop as a result of human infection with professional, less often household contact with animals and birds.
Ornithosis - a disease characterized by primary damage to the respiratory organs, as well as the nervous system, parenchymal organs, with the phenomena of general intoxication.
The causative agent was discovered in 1875 by T, Jurgens. The disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci was called "psittacosis" (from the Greek psittakos - parrot), as it arose after contact with parrots. However, later it was noticed that it is possible to get infected not only from parrots, but also from other birds, and the disease was called "ornithosis" (from Latin ornis - a bird).
[Pathogenesis and symptoms of ornithosis
The entrance gates for the pathogen are the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. The causative agent multiplies in the epithelium of the bronchial tree, in the alveolar epithelium, and also in macrophages. Inflammation develops, cells are destroyed, bacteremia, toxemia, allergization of the macroorganism, lesion of the parenchymal organs occur. In the clinical picture of ornithosis, the symptoms of bronchial and pulmonary lesions are of paramount importance. There are complications from the cardiovascular (thrombophlebitis, myocarditis), central nervous systems, etc. A generalized form of chlamydial infection is possible.
Immunity has an unsterile nature, mainly cellular. Possible repeated diseases. The bacterium is able to persist in the respiratory organs after a clinical recovery. Long-term hypersensitivity to the pathogen antigens may persist, which are detected when intradermal tests are performed.
Epidemiology of ornithosis
The source of infection are wild, domestic and ornamental birds - infected or asymptomatic carriers. Infection from ectoparasites of birds and rodents is also possible. From person to person, the disease is transmitted very rarely.
The mechanism of infection is respiratory, the pathway of airborne and airborne infection when inhaled dust contaminated by secretions of sick birds.
People's susceptibility to ornithosis is high. The disease is of a professional nature - people who work on poultry farms suffer from a bowl, as well as owners of ornamental birds.