Clinical ornithosis in a New Zealand aviary

Authors: McCausland IP, O'Hara PJ, Carter ME
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 20, Issue 4, pp 53-54, Apr 1972
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Avian, Companion animal
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Bacterial, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Viral, Reproduction
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: Clinical ornithosis (psittacosis) in man and birds was first reported in New Zealand following importations of parrots from Australia in 1953 and 1954 (Fastier and Austin, 1954; Jeffery, 1954; Murray et al, 1954; Cairney, 1954). Apart from one human infection resulting from exposure to the ornithosis agent in a laboratory (Fastier and Austin, 1954), the clinical disease has been reported only in imported birds and in human beings who have come into contact with them. In 1959, Miles isolated the causative agent from nine clinically normal domestic pigeons and a wild rosella, thus demonstrating the presence of latent carriers of the organism in this country. This report describes clinical ornithosis in New Zealand-resident birds in a suburban aviary.

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