Clinical and radiographic features of psittacosis infection.

Abstract

Forty three cases of psittacosis infection were identified retrospectively over a five year period. The commonest clinical presentation was of a bronchitic illness with a productive cough and features of systemic upset. In 12 (28%) cases no radiographic abnormality was detected on the chest film. Segmental shadowing was the commonest abnormality but lobar and more extensive consolidation occurred. There were no radiographic features that allowed confident differentiation from other causes of pneumonia. The total and differential white cell counts were usually normal and this feature may help to differentiate psittacosis from bacterial pneumonia.Psittacosis is a relatively uncommon cause of community acquired pneumonia in patients requiring hospital admission. In two recent studies of pneumonia, in Bristol' and in Nottingham,2 it accounted for only 1.5% and 5.5% of cases. In 1980 and 1981 there was an increase in the number of cases of psittacosis detected nationally3 and this provided the opportunity to examine a substantial number of cases of psittacosis infection. MethodsPatients with psittacosis occurring in the three health districts centred on Bristol in the years 1978-82 were identified from the records of the Public Health Laboratory in Bristol. Our definition of psittacosis infection required a fourfold rise in complement fixing antibody titre or a titre equal to or greater than 1/256 in the absence of positive serological results for other organisms. Most requests for serological testing were made by chest physicians. Determination of antibody titres was usually requested as part of the investigation of pneumonia but was not done routinely in the investigation of symptoms suggesting other acute respiratory tract infections.The hospital notes and radiographs were obtained for all patients treated either as hospital inpatients

Infection by Chlamydophilia avium in an Elderly Couple Working in a Pet Shop

“…Previous studies have reported C. avium infection mostly among 30-to 60-year-old adults (1,5,10). However, a small number of studies have reported cases of psittacosis among the elderly (1,5,10).…”

“…However, a small number of studies have reported cases of psittacosis among the elderly (1,5,10). For example, Coutts et al (1) found that among 43 patients, 1 was Ͼ70 years old. Another study reported that among 135 patients, 10 were Ͼ70 years old (10).…”

Pneumonia grave por "Chlamydia psittaci"

“…Anormalidades neurológicas são sintomas raros da doença. Já foram descritos distúrbios cerebelares, mielite transversa, meningite, confusão mental, hipertensão intracraniana, síndrome de Guillain-Barre, paralisia de pares cranianos, entre eles II, III, IV, VI, VII e XII (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) . As manifestações gastrintestinais mais freqüentes são vômi-tos, diarréia, anorexia e dor abdominal.…”

“…Nos países desenvolvidos, as aves importadas recebem tetraciclina em regime de quarentena e depois usa-se adicionalmente por mais 15 dias, antes de ser comercializadas. Alguns autores recomendam profilaxia com doxiciclina durante dez dias, para contatos de pacientes infectados (19,27) . A psitacose é diagnóstico diferencial importante a ser considerado em situações de pneumonia comunitária que não responde à antibioticoterapia convencional, que evolui de modo insatisfatório e cuja epidemiologia é positiva para exposição às aves.…”

Case 16-1998

“…40 As with other forms of atypical pneumonia, no diagnostic patterns are recognized on chest radiographs, with nodular densities, segmental and lobar consolidation, interstitial abnormalities, and pleural effusions all reported. 11,41,42 Since culture of Chl. psittaci is difficult and hazardous, the key to the diagnosis is an appropriate history of exposure.…”