Chlamydophila psittaci

Background

• 6 avian serovars (A-F) and 2 mammalian isolates (WC and M56)
• Reservoirs: birds (465 species), duck, geese, turkeys, cattle, muskrats
• Transmission: inhalation from aerosolized urine, feces, dried feces, eye secretions. Person-to-person transmission is possible but rare.
• Incubation period usually 5-14 days but can be up to 1 month
• All transmittable to humans with potential for severe disease

Clinical Features

• Contact with above birds/animals
• High fever (up to 40.5C)
• Common: Low pulse, chills, headache, myalgia, nonproductive cough
• Less common: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, trace hemoptysis
• Complications: myocarditis, endocarditis, icterus, encephalitis, ARDS, MODs

Workup

• CBC-leukopenia in 25% of cases
• Chemistry
• CRP
• LFT
• CXR-usually lower lobe consolidation
• Sputum culture

Management

• Doxycycline 100mg PO Q12h x 10-14 days or
• Azithromycin 500mg PO Qday x 7 days

Disposition

Home if no complications

Sources

• Beeckman, Zoonotic Chlamydophila psittaci infections from a clinical perspective. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, (2009) 15:11-17.
• Tintinalli