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SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Psittacosis
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Chlamydia psittaci, Ornithosis.
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram positive rickettsial bacteria.
SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Human: Febrile respiratory tract disease; sudden onset of chills, cough, epistaxis, anorexia,
chest pain, splenomegaly, myocarditis, relative bradycardia.
Animals: Diarrhea and pneumonitis in birds, occasionally causing high mortality; drop in egg production in turkeys;
abortion in sheep and cattle; conjunctivitus in guinea pigs; pneumonitis in cats.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; major disease problems in psittacines, turkeys, and pigeons in the United States,
ducks and geese in Europe; poor sanitation and inadequate ventilation aids spread.
HOST RANGE: Humans, birds, sheep, cattle, cats, and other mammals.
INFECTIOUS DOSE: (Information pending)
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Inhalation of aerosol agent shed from carrier animal; some human-to-human transmission,
usually through saliva; one reported case of a human contracting psittacosis from a cat with pneumonitis.
INCUBATION PERIOD: 4-15 days; usually 10 days.
COMMUNICABILITY: Carrier state in birds may persist for years.
SECTION III - DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Primarily birds.
ZOONOSIS: Yes, from infected birds to humans.
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV - VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Tetracylines (doxycycline, tetracycline hydrochloride).
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: 1:1000 dilution of quaternary ammonium compounds is best; 70% isopropyl
alcohol, 1% Lysol, 1% sodium hypochlorite (20% commercial bleach), chlorophenols.
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Susceptible to heat but resistant to acid and alkaline compounds.
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Resistant to drying in feces or nasal discharges.
SECTION V - MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Confirmed by serologic methods in which paired sera are tested for chlamydial antibodies
by a complement-fixation test.
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Treat humans with tetracyclines for 21 days.
IMMUNIZATION: No vaccines for humans.
PROPHYLAXIS: None recommended.
SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INNFECTIONS: One of the most commonly reported laboratory-associated bacterial infections.
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Primary sources are naturally or experimentally infected birds; less important sources
are mice and eggs.
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Exposure to infectious aerosols and droplets, created during the handling of infected birds
and tissues.
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIRENMNTS: BSL-2 practices, containment equipment, and facilities recommended for activities
involving necropsy of infected birds and examination of infected tissues and cultures.
PROTECTIVE CLOTIUNG: Gloves during necropsy and during direct skin contact with infected tissues, fluids,
etc.; when cleaning cages or handling infected birds wear gloves, protective clothing, surgical masks, and respirator
with at least an N95 rating.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Wet carcass with detergent and water when performing necropsies to avoid aerosolization
of infectious particles and work under hood with exhaust fan.
SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION
SPELLS: Cover spills with disinfectants listed in Section IV, allowing sufficient contact time (30 minutes)
before clean up.
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; autoclave or incinerate wastes.
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labeled.
Information provided by the Colorado State University Office of Biosafety- June 16, 1998.
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