Thursday, March 1, 2012

Ornithosis (Parrot Disease)

Ornithosis is an acute infectious disease of influenza group which is characterized with fever, general intoxication, damage of lungs and nervous system, liver and spleen increase. Source of infection are poultry and wild birds. Today are distinguished about 140 ornithosis agents. Great epidemiologic importance have poultry and pet birds especially pigeons.

Infection occurs via airbone, however, in 10% cases occurs alimentary contagion. Ornithosis agent belongs to chlamydia and keeps in external environment for 2 – 3 weeks. It is resistant to sulfanilamides and susceptible to antibiotics of tetracycline group and macrolides.

Symptoms and course
Incubation period is from 6 to 17 days. Ornithosis may be typical and atypical (aseptic meningitis, ornithosis without lungs damage). Besides acute forms, ornithosis may be chronic.

Pneumonic forms start with symptoms of intoxication, which are followed with signs of respiratory organs damage. Chill is followed with temperature rise above 39 C, headaches in parietofrontal area, pains in back muscles and limbs, general weakness, adynamia, appetite lose. In some cases patient suffers from vomit, nosebleeds. On 2 – 4 day appear signs of lungs damage. Also patient may have dry cough, stabbing pains in chest. Then releases mucopurulent viscous sputum (in 15% of cases with blood)

The onset of the disease is characterized with pallidness of skin, brachycardia, blood pressure dicrease, heart sound muting. X-ray examination shows condition of lower lung lobes. During recovery, especially after severe forms of ornithosis, patient experiences vascular dysfunctions for a long time.

Complications: thrombophlebitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, iridocyclitis, thyroadenitis.

Recognition is made according to clinical data relying on epidemiologic background.

Treatment
Most effective are antibiotics of tetracycline group which are 3 – 5 active than laevomycetin. Daily dozes of tetracycline vary from 1,2 to 2 mgs. The amount of lethal cases is 1%. Are possible bacsets and transformation into chronic form (10 – 15% cases) .

Preventive measures:
  • fighting against ornithosis among  poultry
  • controlling pigeons population

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