Typically, though, droppings are greenish, greyish, watery and often without crystalline uric acid. In Cockatiels, flaccid paresis and paralysis of the hind limbs have been seen. A locally circumscribed infection in the form of Keraton Conjunctivitis in which the signs are recurrent and cannot be successfully treated. Treatment So far, only Tetracycline's have been effective, as it seems to interfere with the propagation cycle by inhibiting the synthesis of chlamydial proteins and growth. Then, the hosts defence mechanisms must eliminate these remaining altered variant Chlamydia and re-establish natural host cells and prevent the establishment of newly infected cells during the treatment phase.
Birds suffering from the active disease usually recover rapidly.
Application of Tetracycline in drinking water has been unsuccessful because birds either don't drink enough or don't drink at sufficiently frequent intervals to keep the blood concentrations high enough. The recommended method of giving Tetracycline's is in soft mixed foods, or commercially hulled seeds covered with Tetracycline. The success of treatment depends not only on long term therapy at minimum blood concentrations but also on the prevention of re-infestation. Chlamydiae that are shed by the host are protected by cells and proteinaceous material that help it survive outside of the host for approximately a month. Formalin is one of the best compounds for disinfecting as it breaks down the faecal material and kills the organisms within hours.