Definition & Meaning of "psittacosis"

What is "psittacosis"?

Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever, is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci that mainly affects birds, including parrots, pigeons, and poultry, but can also be spread to humans. In birds, symptoms can include lack of energy, ruffled feathers, difficulty breathing, and eye or nasal discharge. In humans, it can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes pneumonia. The infection spreads by breathing in dust from dried bird droppings, feathers, or fluids. Treatment involves antibiotics, and preventing the spread requires proper hygiene practices when dealing with birds.