Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi, cilt.72, sa.1, ss.73-78, 2015 (Scopus)
Psittacosis is a systemic infection with high morbidity caused by Chlamydophila psittaci in domestic and wild birds. It shows zoonotic characteristic. C. psittaci leads an infection in over of 470 bird species worldwide has been known. This is a fact that people have a close relationship both with wild and pet birds and this has paved the way for infection in humans of. C. psittaci Gram negative, obligate and intracellular bacterium with biphasic growth cycle. It is transmitted by respiratory and fecal-oral route between birds. Clinically, anorexia,eye and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, weight loss, ruffled feathers and diarrhea may also seen in infected birds. Transmission of infection to humans occurs through inhalation or direct contact and transmission through bird bites or human-to-human is rare. C. psittaci usually leads to the systemic infection associated with pneumonia in humans. In recent years, PCR based molecular methods are used as well as serological methods such as ELISA, CFT, MIF in diagnosis. Both of infected birds and humans, tetracyclines and macrolides are preferred for treatment of infection. In order to prevent the disease, due to there isn't any commercial vaccine for especially using in birds, applying biosafety rules is very important in terms of human health and economical aspects. Especially, veterinarians, bird breeders and dealers, poultry farmers and slaughterhouse workers are at high risk for C. psittaci infection. Due to the transmission to humans of psittacosis infection and accepting it as a potential biological weapon, it is thought to be important for public health. In this review, it is aimed to give detailed information about infection in human and birds, because it can be missed at the diagnosis, hence there is low awareness about disease and it has got variable clinical symptoms.