Psittacosis

Abstract

1. The virus of psittacosis is present in the nasal secretions, feces, blood, spleen, and liver of an infected parrot. 2. Parrots are susceptible to intraoral, intranasal, or intramuscular inoculations of the virus. 3. The most constant pathological changes produced by psittacosis in parrots occur in the spleen and liver. The lesions exhibited in the latter organ consist of areas of necrotic liver cells and damage to bile ducts. In no instance, in our experience, were lesions observed in a parrot's lungs comparable to those found in the lungs of men. 4. "Minute bodies" similar to those described by Levinthal and others were found in many, but not in all of the infected birds. 5. Parrots that have recovered from one attack of psittacosis exhibit an active immunity against reinfection.

Pathological studies on chlamydiosis in parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis)

“…Similar findings have been reported previously (Rivers et al 1931;Surman et al 1974;Hashimoto et al 1985;Hirai, 1985;Moore and Petrak, 1985). In the present study, focal necrosis with associated basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion was also observed in the adrenal gland.…”

“…This indicates that this phenomenon is probably associated with dissemination of chlamydial organisms within the host. Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies of variable in size on smear preparations from the affected tissues are pathognomonic for chlamydiosis (Rivers et al, 1931;Beasley e? al, 1959Beasley e?…”

“…Pathological changes of chlamydiosis in poultry and other avian species are basically similar. Descriptions of histopathological changes in chlamydiosis have been reported in parakeets, budgerigars (Hashimoto et al, 1985), and Amazon parrots (Rivers et al, 1931;Moore and Petrak, 1985).…”

“…hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and pneumonia, but these are not sufficiently specific for a positive diagnosis (Rivers et al, 1931;Gale et al, 1960;Surman et al, 1974;Shewen, 1980;Forsyth and Beddome, 1981;Johnson, 1983;Mohan, 1984;Hashimoto et al, 1985;Hirai, 1985;Moore and Petrak, 1985). Histologically, birds affected with chlamydial infection have lesions of pneumonia, airsacculitis, tracheitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, splenitis, nephritis, orchitis, enteritis, keratoconjunctivitis, and encephalitis.…”

“…Histologically, birds affected with chlamydial infection have lesions of pneumonia, airsacculitis, tracheitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, splenitis, nephritis, orchitis, enteritis, keratoconjunctivitis, and encephalitis. These lesions are associated with chlamydial inclusion bodies (CIB) (Rivers et al, 1931;Beasley et al, 1959Beasley et al, , 1961aGale et al, 1960;Surman et al, 1974;Shewen, 1980;Johnson, 1983;Hashimoto et al, 1985;Hirai, 1985;Moore and Petrak, 1985;Riddell, 1987). Pathological changes of chlamydiosis in poultry and other avian species are basically similar.…”