Pregnancy complicated by psittacosis acquired from sheep.

Abstract

Two cases of chlamydial infection in pregnant women are described, the first serologically proved and the second suspected. In both cases the infection was probably contracted from sheep suffering with enzootic abortion. Both patients were farmers' wives who had helped their husbands with lambing and developed a non-specific febrile illness in late pregnancy. In the first case as there was no clinical improvement after 26 hours the patient was delivered by caesarean section of a live infant in good condition; the patient recovered fully. The second patient had presented a year earlier, the fetus had died in the uterus, and the patient herself died after spontaneous labour and forceps delivery 14 hours after admission. Both patients developed disseminated intravascular coagulation.As

Gestational psittacosis: A case report and literature review

“…Fetal infection was diagnosed by C. psittaci cultured from fetal organs in patient 5, positive C. psittaci serology in patient 13, and chlamydia inclusions in fetal organs in patients 16 and 17. However, because abortion or stillbirth had occurred even without fetal infection, impaired uteroplacental perfusion by placental infection is more likely to be the fetal cause of death, as previously reported …”

“…Chest X‐ray findings: lobe consolidation or infiltration, not adult respiratory distress syndrome. Patients reference (ref): 1, our report; 2, ref ; 3, ref ; 4, ref ; 5, ref ; 6, ref ; 7, ref ; 8, ref ; 9, ref ; 10, ref ; 11, ref ; 12, ref ; 13, ref ; 14, ref ; 15, ref ; 16, ref ; 17, ref ; 18, ref ; 19, ref ; 20, ref ; 21, ref ; 22, ref ; 23, ref . + = present, − = absent, blank = not described.…”

“…Maternal mortality was 8.7% (2/23). Patient 23 was diagnosed with atonic hemorrhage with DIC which resulted in maternal death; macrolide or tetracycline was not administered . At necropsy, there was no evidence of amniotic embolism .…”

“…We report a case of gestational psittacosis that could not be diagnosed as psittacosis during treatment and resulted in maternal and fetal death despite intensive treatment and present a review of gestational psittacosis literature …”

Chlamydial infections in man

“…The association of infections of animals other than the parrot family with man is unclear, but they are believed to be generally of low communicability. However, Beer et al (1982) and Johnson et al (1985) reported cases of chlamydial infection in pregnancy, all following contact with infected sheep. Johnson (1983) noted reports of human infections associated with bovine chlamydial pneumonia, and bovine encephalomyelitis, and Stepanek et al (1983) described serological changes and urogenital symptoms in men and women in contact with bovine chlamydiosis.…”