Agriculture Western Australia Farmnote Chlamydiosis in birds By Marc Kabay, Veterinary Officer, Animal Industries, South Perth and Shane Raidal, Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University Summary Parrots, budgerigars, pigeons and turkeys are particularly susceptible to chlamydiosis, a common disease of all birds, especially stressed birds. Symptoms are listed, as is the treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline, which must be started early. Preventative measures are outlined. Infection by humans, sometimes severe, is described. Chlamydiosis is a significant disease of wild, captive and intensively reared birds.
Chickens are relatively resistant.
The organism also causes a disease in humans known as 'psittacosis'. It can be difficult to distinguish chlamydiosis from several other important diseases of birds. Signs of the disease include a swollen head, especially around the beak, a discharge from the eye, sneezing, breathing difficulties, tail-bobbing, green diarrhoea, and a depressed appearance. Alternatively, sudden death may be the only history. How the disease is spread Chlamydiosis is most commonly introduced into an aviary by infected birds.