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The Lancet. Microbe Oct 2022
Topics: Chlamydophila psittaci; Humans; Psittacosis
PubMed: 35817065
DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00191-4 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics Aug 2023This case of psittacosis in children, is the first described in literature, in Italy. This respiratory infection can be transmitted to humans from the inhalation of...
BACKGROUND
This case of psittacosis in children, is the first described in literature, in Italy. This respiratory infection can be transmitted to humans from the inhalation of respiratory secretions, feces and plumage aerosol of infected birds (and other animals). Usually it can have an asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic course, and the onset is often flu-like, but in this case the child risked his life for a severe respiratory failure. This report is unique because in children psittacosis is rare, and always misdiagnosed, or could cause a delayed diagnosis because of lack of awareness among the paediatricians and physicians. Furthermore, psittacosis enters a differential diagnosis with SARS-COV2 infection because both diseases may determine dyspnea and atypical pneumonia, up to acute respiratory failure.
CASE PRESENTATION
This clinical case talks about a three-and-a-half-year-old male child affected by psittacosis (or ornithosis), with severe dyspnea and systemic symptoms who required oro-tracheal intubation for acute respiratory failure. The child had slept in a room at home, with some recently bought parrots affected by psittacosis. Initially the child was treated with empiric antibiotic therapy (i.v.ceftriaxone and teicoplanin), but after having isolated the DNA of the germ "Chlamydia psittaci" in both serological and through bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), he was treated with targeted antibiotic therapy: tetracyclines (doxicillin).
CONCLUSIONS
Psittacosis is an extremely contagious disease, caused by an intracellular germ, called "Chlamydia psittaci", a Gram-negative bacterium, transmitted to humans in particular by infected birds, responsible for atypical pneumonia, with acute and chronic respiratory symptoms, sometimes with multi-organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Even if it is a rare respiratory disease among children, a good doctor must think about psittacosis as cause of respiratory symptoms (and not only flu or SARS-COV2), above all through a correct medical history, in order to provide a targeted antibiotic therapy. An interesting case of psittacosis in a child is being reported here, which has been treated successfully with doxycillin.
Topics: Animals; Male; Humans; Child; Child, Preschool; Psittacosis; Chlamydophila psittaci; RNA, Viral; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Italy; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma; Chlamydia
PubMed: 37649055
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01497-6 -
California and Western Medicine Nov 1932
PubMed: 18742329
DOI: No ID Found -
Canadian Medical Association Journal Mar 1930
PubMed: 20317745
DOI: No ID Found -
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C.... Feb 1957
Topics: Biomedical Research; Humans; Psittacosis
PubMed: 13408422
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Jan 2009Human psittacosis is a zoonotic infectious disease which is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci. Transmission of the disease usually... (Review)
Review
Human psittacosis is a zoonotic infectious disease which is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci. Transmission of the disease usually originates from close contact with infected birds, most frequently in the context of the poultry industry, and from contact with Psittaciformes (cockatoos, parrots, parakeets and lories). Due to a low awareness of the disease and a variable clinical presentation psittacosis is often not recognised as such by general practitioners. This review therefore gives an overview of the epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and possible treatments for psittacosis in humans. The current case definition for epidemiological surveillance, as issued by the CDC, is discussed, as well as the possible emergence of Cp. psittaci antibiotic-resistant strains. There is an urgent need for information and for awareness campaigns directed at professional health care workers and the general public. In addition, a broader use of new diagnostic methods in medical laboratories and the development of prophylactics are called for.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Birds; Child; Chlamydophila psittaci; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Psittacosis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 19220335
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02669.x -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022() has caused sporadic, but recurring, fatal community-acquired pneumonia outbreaks worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Our understanding of host...
PURPOSE
() has caused sporadic, but recurring, fatal community-acquired pneumonia outbreaks worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Our understanding of host inflammatory responses to is limited, and many bronchitis cases of psittaci have rapidly progressed to pneumonia with deterioration.
METHODS
To clarify the host inflammatory response in psittacosis, we analyzed clinical parameters, and compared transcriptomic data, concentrations of plasma cytokines/chemokines, and changes of immune cell populations in 17 laboratory-confirmed psittacosis cases, namely, 8 pneumonia and 9 bronchitis individuals, in order to assess transcriptomic profiles and pro-inflammatory responses.
RESULTS
Psittacosis cases with pneumonia were found to have abnormal routine blood indices, liver damage, and unilateral pulmonary high-attenuation consolidation. Transcriptome sequencing revealed markedly elevated expression of several pro-inflammatory genes, especially interleukins and chemokines. A multiplex-biometric immunoassay showed that pneumonia cases had higher levels of serum cytokines (G-CSF, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, IP-10, MCP-3, and TNF-α) than bronchitis cases. Increases in activated neutrophils and decreases in the number of lymphocytes were also observed in pneumonia cases.
CONCLUSION
We identified a number of plasma biomarkers distinct to pneumonia and a variety of cytokines elevated with immunopathogenic potential likely inducing an inflammatory milieu and acceleration of the disease progression of psittaci pneumonia. This enhances our understanding of inflammatory responses and changes in vascular endothelial markers in psittacosis with heterogeneous symptoms and should prove helpful for developing both preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Biomarkers; Bronchitis; Chemokine CXCL10; Chlamydophila psittaci; Cytokines; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-18; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-6; Pneumonia; Psittacosis; Transfer Factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 36119044
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.929213 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jul 2017Human psittacosis is a highly under diagnosed zoonotic disease, commonly linked to psittacine birds. Psittacosis in birds, also known as avian chlamydiosis, is endemic...
BACKGROUND
Human psittacosis is a highly under diagnosed zoonotic disease, commonly linked to psittacine birds. Psittacosis in birds, also known as avian chlamydiosis, is endemic in poultry, but the risk for people living close to poultry farms is unknown. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the temporal and spatial patterns of human psittacosis infections and identify possible associations with poultry farming in the Netherlands.
METHODS
We analysed data on 700 human cases of psittacosis notified between 01-01-2000 and 01-09-2015. First, we studied the temporal behaviour of psittacosis notifications by applying wavelet analysis. Then, to identify possible spatial patterns, we applied spatial cluster analysis. Finally, we investigated the possible spatial association between psittacosis notifications and data on the Dutch poultry sector at municipality level using a multivariable model.
RESULTS
We found a large spatial cluster that covered a highly poultry-dense area but additional clusters were found in areas that had a low poultry density. There were marked geographical differences in the awareness of psittacosis and the amount and the type of laboratory diagnostics used for psittacosis, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the correlation between the large cluster and poultry density. The multivariable model showed that the presence of chicken processing plants and slaughter duck farms in a municipality was associated with a higher rate of human psittacosis notifications. The significance of the associations was influenced by the inclusion or exclusion of farm density in the model.
CONCLUSIONS
Our temporal and spatial analyses showed weak associations between poultry-related variables and psittacosis notifications. Because of the low number of psittacosis notifications available for analysis, the power of our analysis was relative low. Because of the exploratory nature of this research, the associations found cannot be interpreted as evidence for airborne transmission of psittacosis from poultry to the general population. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence of C. psittaci in Dutch poultry. Also, efforts to promote PCR-based testing for C. psittaci and genotyping for source tracing are important to reduce the diagnostic deficit, and to provide better estimates of the human psittacosis burden, and the possible role of poultry.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Chickens; Farms; Food-Processing Industry; Genotype; Humans; Netherlands; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; Psittacosis; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 28747153
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2608-1 -
British Medical Journal Jan 1972
Topics: Animals; Birds; Chlamydia; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Psittacosis
PubMed: 5061782
DOI: No ID Found -
British Medical Journal Feb 1972
Topics: Adult; Animals; Bites and Stings; Columbidae; Disease Reservoirs; Female; Humans; Psittaciformes; Psittacosis; United Kingdom
PubMed: 5061969
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.5796.378-b