Psittacosis Case Pays Big

(Bulwell, England) A 35-year-old retail asst. manager, Glyn Atherton, received compensation of 700,000 British Pounds ($1.38 million) from his employer after catching psittacosis from a pet store parrot.

It's reported that the lung disease psittacosis, similar to pneumonia, left Atherton disabled and wheelchair-bound. Atherton apparently acquired the disease by inhaling dried secretions from the infected parrot which died a few days afterward.

Psittacosis is transmitted by avian fecal and nasal discharges carrying a bacterium called Chlamydophila psittaci (formerly Chlamydia psittaci). Psittacosis (aka parrot fever and ornithosis) is considered rare with fewer than 50 cases reported in the U.S. yearly. In some cases, it leads to endocarditis, hepatitis, and neurologic complications. Severe pneumonia requiring intensive-care support may also occur and some fatalities have been reported.

Pet owners, pet shop workers, veterinarians and poultry handlers are most at risk, however, human infections have been documented from poultry and free-ranging birds, including doves, pigeons, birds of prey, and shore birds. Although all birds carry the bug, not all are infectious. Some birds are only infectious some of the time, particularly when under stress. Cold environs, relocation, hunger can bring on the disease in birds (called avian chlamydiosis).

For treatment, tetracyclines are the preferred medications. Notably, the occurrence of psittacosis is quite difficult to diagnose. Incidence of the disease is reportable in many jurisdictions.

Of course, it's worthwhile to mention that psittacosis is not the avian flu that's been scaring the pants off everyone worldwide. That would be the H1N5 strain of influenza caused by a virus. Psittacosis is caused by a bacterium.