Content
- Chlamydiosis in birds
- Chlamydia in cockatiel - symptoms
- Diagnosis of Chlamydiosis in Cockatiels
- Chlamydiosis in cockatiel - how to treat
- Chlamydia in cockatiel passes to humans?
- Prevention of Chlamydiosis in Birds
Chlamydiosis is one of the most common diseases in birds. Cockatiels can be infected by Chlamydophila psittaci, so if you have a bird of this species, you need to be very aware of the symptoms.
Since chlamydiosis is a zoonosis, that is, it can be transmitted to humans, it is even more important that bird guardians know about this disease, know how to detect its symptoms and act in case of contagion.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain everything about Chlamydiosis in Cockatiels, keep reading!
Chlamydiosis in birds
Chlamydiosis is a disease caused by intracellular bacteria of the family Chlamydiaceae. According to the current classification, this family is divided into two genera: Chlamydia and Chlamydophila. It is within this second group that the Chlamydophila psittaci, the species responsible for chlamydiosis in psittacidae birds, thus being responsible for chlamydiosis in cockatiels. Previously, this bacterium was called Chlamydia psittaci.
Chlamydiosis in birds, also called chlamydiophyllosis, parrot fever or psittacosis is a zoonosis, that is, birds that carry this bacterium can transmit it to humans. This transmission occurs through direct contact between humans and birds or through inhalation of particles present in urine or dust from the feathers.
Chlamydia in cockatiel - symptoms
Like other psittacidae birds, cockatiels can be infected by C. psittaci. Birds infected with this bacteria can be asymptomatic, that is, they do not present symptoms, even though they are carriers and, therefore, they can infect other birds and humans. Cockatiels can live for many years as carriers without showing any symptoms.
Problems arise when the bird's immune system is down. You Chlamydia symptoms in cockatiel can be:
- Diarrhea or watery stools
- Conjunctivitis and eye secretions
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Apathy
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Somnolence
Chlamydia symptoms in cockatiel are not very specific and, in addition, different organs can be affected, such as the liver, spleen, respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is essential that you consult your trusted veterinarian if you notice any behavioral changes in your bird.
Diagnosis of Chlamydiosis in Cockatiels
Since the clinical signs of chladiosis in birds are unspecific, the diagnosis becomes more complicated to make. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm that it is this disease.
Your veterinarian can use the following tests to reach a definitive diagnosis of chlamydiosis in cockatiels:
- radiography
- ultrasound
- liver enzyme analysis
- white blood cell count
Although they are more expensive and a laboratory outside the clinic is usually needed, there are laboratory methods that allow the isolation of the C. psittaci. One of the most reliable diagnostic methods is the direct detection of DNA from the chlamydophila by PCR technique.
Chlamydiosis in cockatiel - how to treat
If your cockatiel has chlamydiosis, veterinary treatment is essential. There are different treatment protocols for chlamydiosis and your veterinarian will choose the one that best suits your cockatiel case.
The most common treatment is with antibiotic therapy which can be oral, water soluble or injectable. If you only have one cockatiel, the injectable choice is likely to be the best choice because of its effectiveness. However, if you have a cockatiel farm, the soluble option may be more practical, although it is difficult to control the amount of water each bird drinks.
The ocular region is often affected by chlamydia. If you have a cockatiel with conjunctivitis, your veterinarian may prescribe a few drops of antibiotic to apply directly to the bird's eyes.
In addition to antibiotic treatment to eliminate the bacteria, other treatments may be needed to alleviate symptoms.
Duration of treatment and prognosis are highly variable and depend mainly on how early chlamydiosis in cockatiel is detected.
If you have a nursery with a lot of birds, separate birds that have clinical signs from the others. until finishing the treatment.
Generally, after 45 days of treatment the birds should be retested.
Chlamydia in cockatiel passes to humans?
Chlamydiosis is a zoonosis, that is, it can effectively be transmitted from birds to humans. Anyway, the incidence of chladiosis in humans is very low, even though there are thousands of birds carrying this disease. Most people are resistant to the bacteria unless the immune system is compromised.
In any case, it is important to alert to the fact that transmission is possible, as some cases of chlamydiosis in humans can be fatal if not treated properly.
You chladiosis symptoms in humans are:
- severe headaches
- general malaise
- Chills
- Myalgia
Severe cases can even cause pneumonia, since the lung is one of Organs most affected organs.[1]. However, in most cases chlamydiosis in humans can be asymptomatic (no symptoms) or have symptoms similar to a mild flu.
Prevention of Chlamydiosis in Birds
As we have already mentioned, birds can transmit this bacteria to other birds through nasal, oral or faeces secretions. For this reason, it is essential keep the birds' environment always clean. Also read our full article on caring for cockatiel.
In nurseries with many birds, the risk of existing chlamydiosis is much higher and care must be redoubled. Regular cleaning should include drinking troughs and feeders, not just the area where there is waste.
Another preventive measure is to control the number of birds in the aviary. A high population density increases the risk of chlamydiasis and makes it more difficult to keep everything sanitized, and birds have a lower quality of life.
Whenever you adopt a new cockatiel, quarantine it before adding it to other birds. This way you ensure that you detect any clinical signs before you risk transmitting any disease to other healthy birds.
Don't forget to regularly visit an exotic animal veterinarian. It's not just dogs and cats that need veterinary care. In birds, regular visits also allow any changes or problems to be identified early, improving the prognosis.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Chlamydiosis in cockatiel - treatment, symptoms and diagnosis, we recommend that you enter our Bacterial Diseases section.