Chlamydia is one of the most common diseases in birds, redlines can become infected with Clamydophila psittaci, so if you have a bird of this species you should be very aware of the symptoms.
Since chlamydia is a zoonotic disease, that is, it can be transmitted to humans, it is even more important that bird carers know this disease, know how to detect its symptoms and act in case of contagion.
In this Animal Expert article, we’ll explain all about chlamydia in the cockatoo, read on!
Chlamydiaceae is a disease caused by intracellular bacteria in the family Chlamydiaceae; According to the current classification, this family is divided into two genes: Chlamydia and Chlamydophila, within this second group is Chlamydophila psittaci, the species responsible for chlamydia in psychedelic birds, is responsible for chlamydia in cockatoos.In the past, this bacterium was called Chlamydia psittaci.
Chlamydia in birds, also known as chlamydia, parrot fever or psitacosis, is a zoonotic disease, that is, birds carrying this bacterium can transmit it to humans, this transmission is produced by direct contact between humans and birds or by inhalation of particles into urine or feather dust.
Like other psittacidal birds, cockatoos can become infected with C.Psittaci.Birds infected with this bacterium can be asymptomatic, i.e. they have no symptoms, even if they are carriers, so they can infect other birds and humans. Gallinetes can live for many years as carriers without showing symptoms.
Problems occur when the bird’s immune system is weak. Symptoms of chlamydia in the cockatoo may include:
The symptoms of chlamydia in the cockatoo are not very specific and different organs such as the liver, spleen, respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract may be affected, so it is essential that you consult your trusted veterinarian if you notice any change in behavior in your bird.
Since the clinical signs of chlamydiosis in birds are less specific, the diagnosis becomes more difficult to make. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm that this is the case.
Your veterinarian can help you with the following tests to get to the definitive diagnosis of chlamydia in cockatiels:
Although they are more expensive and a lab outside the clinic is often needed, there are laboratory methods that can isolate C.Psittaci. One of the most reliable diagnostic methods is the direct detection of chlamydophila DNA using the PCR technique.
If your cockatiel has chlamydia, veterinary treatment is essential, there are different protocols to treat chlamydia and the veterinarian will choose the one that is best for your cockatiel.
The most common treatment is antibiotics that can be oral, water soluble or injectable, if you only have one cockatoo probably the injectable one, for its effectiveness, but if you have a cockatoo hatchery, the soluble option may be more convenient, although it is difficult to control the amount of water each bird drinks.
The eye area is often affected by chlamydia.If you have a cockatoo 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 remove bacteria, other treatments may be needed to relieve symptoms.
The duration of treatment and prognosis vary widely and depend mainly on early detection of chlamydia in cockatoos.
If you have a pond with many birds, separate the birds that show clinical signs from the rest until treatment is complete.
Generally, after 45 days of treatment, birds should be re-tested
Chlamydia is zoonosis, meaning it can be effectively transmitted from birds to humans.In any case, the incidence of chlamydia in humans is very low, even though there are thousands of birds with the disease.Most people are resistant to bacteria unless the immune system is compromised.
In any case, it is important to note that transmission is possible, as some cases of chlamydia in humans can be fatal if not treated properly.
Symptoms of chlamydia in humans include
Severe cases can even cause pneumonia, with the lung being one of the most affected organs [1]. However, in most cases, human chlamydia can be asymptomatic (without symptoms) or have symptoms similar to those of mild influenza.
As mentioned above, birds can transmit this bacteria to other birds through nasal, oral or fecal secretions, so it is essential to keep the bird environment always clean.Read also our full article on how to care for the cockatoo.
In nurseries with many birds, the risk of chlamydia is much higher and care needs to be increased.Regular cleaning should include fountains 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 chlamydia and makes it difficult to keep everything clean, besides that the birds have a lower quality of life.
Whenever you adopt a new cockatoo, quarantine it before attaching it to other birds, thus making sure to detect any clinical signs before you risk transmitting a disease to other healthy birds.
Don’t forget to visit a veterinarian for exotic animals on a regular basis, not only dogs and cats need veterinary care, in the case of birds, periodic visits can also be used to identify any changes or problems early, improving the prognosis.
This article is merely informative, at Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or carry out any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read more articles similar to Clamidia in Cockatiel – Treatment, Symptoms and Diagnosis, we recommend that you visit our Bacterial Diseases section.