Psittacosis

Psittacosis is a common and serious disease occurring in birds and the humans that keep them.

The parrot chlamidia may be excreted in droppings, discharge from the eyes or nostrils or exhaled air.

It is possible for the disease to be carried by birds in a dormant state and then be activated by some stressing factor such as moulting, extremes in weather conditions, transportations, changes in husbandry or concurrent illness.

Signs of Chlamidia in parrots can range from sudden deaqth to simply showing a lack of energy.

Infected birds may present with depression, loss of appetite, weight loss, eye discharge, seizures, "fluffed" feathers, green droppings, respiratory disease etc.

There is no treatment currently available the will 100% guarantee the elimination of the disease.

The most effective current treatment is a course of doxycycline given orally or by weekly injections for 42 days.

In untreated birds, severe avian Chlamydiosis is often fatal.