Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever and ornithosis, is a bacterial infection of humans that can cause severe pneumonia and other serious health problems. It is caused by Chlamydophila psittaci, formerly known as Chlamydia psittaci. From 1988 through 2003, 935 human cases of psittacosis were reported to the CDC and most resulted from exposure to infected pet birds, usually cockatiels, parakeets, parrots, and macaws. In birds, C. psittaci infection is referred to as avian chlamydiosis. Infected birds shed the bacteria through feces and nasal discharges, and humans become infected from exposure to these materials. This compendium provides information about psittacosis and avian chlamydiosis to public health officials, physicians, veterinarians, the pet bird industry, and others concerned with controlling these diseases and protecting public health. The recommendations in this compendium provide standardized procedures for controlling avian chlamydiosis in birds, a vital step to protecting human health. This document will be reviewed and revised as necessary.

During the 2010-2011 season, pH1N1 caused more severe disease than H3N2 or B in hospitalized patients. Underlying medical conditions increased severity despite virus strain. Antiviral treatment reduced severity among adults. Our findings underscore the importance of influenza prevention.

Within each of 4 outbreaks of S. Typhimurium among humans and animals at companion animal care facilities, isolates were identical or nearly identical.

In 1996, an epidemic of 393 cases of laboratory-confirmed West Nile meningoencephalitis occurred in southeast Romania, with widespread subclinical human infection. Two case-control studies were performed to identify risk factors for acquiring infection and for developing clinical meningoencephalitis after infection. Mosquitoes in the home were associated with infection (reported by 37 [97%] of 38 asymptomatically seropositive persons compared with 36 [72%] of 50 seronegative controls, P<.01) and, among apartment dwellers, flooded basements were a risk factor (reported by 15 [63%] of 24 seropositive persons vs. 11 [30%] of 37 seronegative controls, P=.01). Meningoencephalitis was not associated with hypertension or other underlying medical conditions but was associated with spending more time outdoors (meningoencephalitis patients and asymptomatically seropositive persons spent 8.0 and 3.5 h [medians] outdoors daily, respectively, P<.01). Disease prevention efforts should focus on eliminating peridomestic mosquito breeding sites and reducing peridomestic mosquito exposure.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 UL28 gene contains a 785-amino-acid open reading frame that codes for an essential protein. Studies with temperature-sensitive mutants which map to the UL28 gene indicate that the UL28 gene product (ICP18.5) is required for packaging of viral DNA and for expression of viral glycoproteins on the surface of infected cells (C. Addison, F.

Brief communications 303 perimental placentitis. Bacterial replication occurs in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Am J Pathol 124:226-237. for Brucella abortus strain RB5. Vet Pathol 33:615. [Abstr.] 4. Chitwood MB, Lichtenfels JR: 1972, Identification of parasitic metazoa in tissue sections. Exp Parasitol 32:461-464. 5. Ewalt DR: 1989, Comparison of three culture techniques for the isolation of Brucella abortus from bovine supramammary lymph nodes. J Vet Diagn Invest 1:227-230. 6. Ewalt DR, Payeur JP, Martin MB, et al.: 1994, Characteristics of a Brucella species from a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). J Vet Diagn Invest 6:448-452. 7. Farrell ID: 1974, The development of a new selective medium for the isolation of Brucella abortus from contaminated sources. Res Vet Sci 16:280-286. 8. Fleischman RW, Squire RA: 1970, Verminous pneumonia in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Pathol Vet 7:89-101. 9. Foster G, Jahans KL, Reid RJ, et al.: 1996, Isolation of Brucella species from cetaceans, seals, and an otter.

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