Psittacosis 

Pathogen: Chlamydia psittaci - obligate intracellular gram negative

Transmission:

 • Birds are the primary reservoir

 • Occupational Exposure: Pet shops, aviaries, veterinary facilities, poultry processing factories

 • Inhalation of organisms in dried feces, bird cage cleaning

Symptoms: Malaise, headache, photophobia, non-productive cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, diarrhea

Diagnosis: 

 • Classic symptoms + history of bird contact

 • Complement fixation

 • Microimmunofluorescent antibody test

 • PCR

 • Culture is discouraged (danger of aerosol)

Treatment - Tetracyclines are first line of treatment:

 • Doxycycline

 • Azithromycin

 • Second Line: Clarithromycin, Levofloxacin



By @TheIDtrivia



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