| Yes, your pet bird can potentially get you or your | | | | can be treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, |
| child sick. Infectious diseases that can be | | | | trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin. |
| transmitted between humans and animals are | | | | *Chlamydia psittaci, often referred to as parrot |
| called zoonotic. Unfortunately, birds can carry at | | | | fever or avian chlamydiosis (AC), is an important |
| lease five different serious illnesses. Not all birds | | | | cause of systemic illness in birds kept as pets and |
| carry disease but the potential is there so you | | | | in poultry. This disease has been isolated in 129 |
| must be cautious, especially with very young | | | | bird species, and parakeets, parrots, macaws, |
| children, very old people and immune system | | | | cockatiels, pigeons, doves, and mynah birds are |
| compromised people. Immune compromised | | | | the most likely carriers. Birds may carry this |
| people would include organ transplant recipients, | | | | disease for years without showing signs of it. |
| people in chemotherapy and HIV infected people. | | | | Birds that show the disease may have a |
| If you think that you or your child has been | | | | respiratory infection, eye discharge, lethargy and |
| exposed to or is suffering from any bird disease, | | | | diarrhea. Human infection with C. psittaci usually |
| your smart move is to consult your physician | | | | occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized |
| who can help pinpoint the cause and prescribe | | | | contaminated bird urine, respiratory secretions, or |
| proper treatment. This article is for your additional | | | | dried feces of infected birds. Other sources of |
| information only. I feel that it is always smart to | | | | exposure can include bird bites, mouth-to-beak |
| do your homework before you consult your | | | | contact, and handling the plumage and tissues of |
| physician. The more help you can offer your | | | | infected birds. Treatment includes Tetracyclines |
| physician on his diagnosis of a problem the better. | | | | are the drugs of choice for treating psittacosis in |
| First, to help avoid exposure to potential disease, | | | | humans |
| cleanliness counts. To best protect yourself from | | | | *Avian Tuberculosis can affect all species of birds. |
| getting sick, thoroughly wash your hands with | | | | The signs of Avian TB in birds are diarrhea, dull |
| running water and soap after contact with birds | | | | plumage, lethargy and gradual wasting away, even |
| or their droppings. | | | | if the birds appetite is good. Avian TB can be |
| Some people use rubber gloves and a mask when | | | | transmitted to humans via ingestion or inhalation |
| cleaning birdcages and habitats. Disinfect the sink | | | | of contaminated feces. The contaminated feces |
| after you wash bird toys, perches and food | | | | can persist in the environment for many years. |
| bowls. Do not share bites of food with your pet | | | | When cleaning a potentially sick bird, it is best to |
| bird, if you might be swapping saliva. Common | | | | wear rubber gloves, goggles and a face mask. |
| sense goes a long way in helping to avoid | | | | Always wash arms up to elbows with antiseptic |
| exposure. | | | | soap even after wearing gloves. People are |
| The five diseases that can be carried by birds are | | | | generally very resistant to these infections. |
| Salmonella, Chlamydia psittaci , Avian Tuberculosis, | | | | *HistoPlasmosis is a fungus that can be found in |
| HistoPlasmosis and Cryptoccus. I will explain each | | | | earth rich with bird droppings. Transmission to |
| disease. | | | | human can occur when they breathe in dust |
| *Salmonella is a bacterial disease associated with | | | | loaded with the fungus. This disease can cause a |
| many birds, especially chickens, baby chicks, and | | | | short term lung infection. This infection generally |
| ducklings. Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of | | | | clears up by itself as long as the infected person |
| some birds, humans and other animals. Salmonella | | | | has normal immune responses. Fungus killing |
| can be found in the feces of some pets, and | | | | medicines may be used if the infection is stubborn. |
| people can become infected if they do not wash | | | | * Cryptococcus is found in the droppings of wild |
| their hands after contact with these feces. There | | | | birds (such as pigeons). When dried bird droppings |
| are approximately 40,000 human cases of | | | | are stirred up, this can make dust containing |
| salmonellosis per year in the United States (not all | | | | Cryptococcus go into the air and be breathed by |
| contracted from birds) and about 600 of those | | | | people. Pets, such as dogs and cats, can also get |
| infected die. Salmonella causes vomiting and | | | | sick with cryptococcosis from this dust, but |
| diarrhea and sometimes fever. Salmonella | | | | people do not get cryptococcosis from dogs and |
| infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do | | | | cats. Most people do not get sick with |
| not require treatment unless the patient becomes | | | | cryptococcosis, but some people, especially those |
| severely dehydrated or the infection spreads | | | | immune compromised with HIV infection are at |
| from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea | | | | danger. For these people, cryptococcosis can |
| may require rehydration, often with intravenous | | | | cause serious symptoms of brain and spinal cord |
| fluids. Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless | | | | disease, such as headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, |
| the infection spreads from the intestines, then it | | | | and confusion. |