[Psittacosis (chlamydiosis) of birds and the necessity of government disease control]

Abstract

Psittacosis--induced by Chlamydia psittaci--occurs at present as individual cases but not any more as an endemic or epidemic disease. The diagnosis does not pose unsurmountable difficulties. The dominant sources of infection for men are--unlike in previous times--now budgerigars and cockatiels from domestic breeding sources but also--as far as it is known at all--different domestic mammals. A targeted therapy of diseases in humans and birds is successfully possible with chlortetracycline, doxycycline or fluoroquinolone-containing drugs. Therefore, government-imposed control measures focussing entirely on imported psittacines such as quarantine, long-term medication and possibly eradication of Chlamydia psittaci-positive psittacine birds are not essential any more. It is suggested that psittacosis in birds should not be a notifiable disease any longer. The derogation of mandatory treatment during quarantine is also recommended. Governmental control of psittacosis should be replaced by a privately organized eradication program by breeders.