Psittacosis

Question 1

Which organism causes psittacosis?

Answer 1

Chlamydia psittaci
(bacteria)

Question 2

Is psitacossis nationally notifiable?

Answer 2

Yes - routine, labs only

Outbreak high priority

Question 3

What is the reservoir of psittacosis?

Answer 3

Birds (hundreds of species)
Most human infections from wild/domestic parrots or farmed birds (poultry)
Birds shed bacteria for months

Question 4

How is psittacosis transmitted?

Answer 4

Birds excrete bacteria is faeces / nasal discharges.

Inhalation of aerosolised bacteria from dried faeces, feather dist, nasal/ocular secretions.

Person-person transmission rare

Question 5

What are the clinical features of psittacosis?

Answer 5

Spectrum of illness:

ASx > mild flu-like illness > systemic illness with severe atypical PNA

Sx: headache, fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, non-productive cough, rash, splenomegaly

Question 6

What are the complications of psittacosis?

Answer 6

Endocarditis, myocarditis, hepatitis, encephalitis

Question 7

Which groups are at high-risk of acquisition?

Answer 7

Bird owners, pet shop employees, others with occupational exposure to birds including dead birds, gardening, lawn mowing without grass catcher

Question 8

Which groups are at high risk of severe disease?

Answer 8

Pregnant women, elderly

Question 9

What are case definitions of psittacosis?

Answer 9

Confirmed: isolation / detection / seroconversion + clinical
Probable: serology + clinical + epi

Question 10

How is psittacosis diagnosed?

Answer 10

PCR of respiratory specimens
Serology

Culture not usually done: biosecurity risk

VIDRL reference lab

Question 11

What is the incubation period for psittacosis?

Answer 11

5-21 days
(usually 10 days)

Question 12

What is the infectious period?

Answer 12

Person-person transmission rare

Question 13

What is the outbreak definition?

Answer 13

> = 2 epidemiologically linked cases

Question 14

Does psittacosis occur in Australia?

Answer 14

Yes - endemic to some parts of Australia.

Highest rates in NSW / Vic

Question 15

How often to outbreaks of psittacosis occur and where do they usually occur?

Answer 15

Rarely.

Household / pet shops / poultry processing plants

Question 16

How is psittacosis prevented?

Answer 16

Education of high-risk groups - pet shop staff, poultry processing plants, bird owners/breeders, taxidermists, zoo workers

Pet shops / bird suppliers:
* Quarantine birds
* Isolate and do no sell sick birds
* Maintain record of bird sales
* Preventive husbandry - ventilation, non-dust producing litter, regular cleaning/disinfecting, PPE when cleaning and for contact with sick birds, wet litter before cleaning, hand hygiene

Public advice: cleaning / disinfecting cages of pet birds (with PPE), grass catcher (lawn mowers), avoid feeding / handling wild birds, seek vet advice if pet bird unwell

Question 17

What resources are available for PH management of psittacosis?

Answer 17

SoNG, DH protocol

Question 18

How are psittacosis cases managed?

Answer 18

Interview - exposure Ix (birds, occupational, recreational, travel, unwell contacts / co-exposed)
T - clinician (ABx, doxy), standard precautions
I - NA
E - transmission, Sx, resp hygiene

Question 19

How are contacts of psittacosis managed?

Answer 19

Consider diagnosis in sx co-exposed (potential outbreak)

Question 20

What environmental management is required for psittacosis?

Answer 20

Source identification and source control
* Trace origin of pet birds (with CVO)
* Investigation of pet store / breeded if infected bird linked to human case acquired within 60 days

T
* suspected bird sources - refer to vet for testing / treatment
* clean and disinfect aviaries,
* PPE for contact with infected birds

Question 21

How are outbreaks of psittacosis managed?

Answer 21

• Report to CVO if poultry farm or processing plant implicated
• Ix / Mx pet stores as above
• Public comms re: protective measures