City veterinarians are reminding pet owners to be on the lookout for symptoms associated with the highly contagious chlamydia. This pathogen comes from both pets and wild birds and can be transmitted to humans. If left untreated, it can be fatal in rare cases.
Unlike the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium, which is spread by sexual contact between humans, Chlamydia psittaci can be transmitted by a simple sneeze. NSW Health lists symptoms in humans that can appear as fever, head and muscle pain, chills, weakness, shortness of breath or a dry cough. In rare cases, it can cause pneumonia, encephalitis of the brain, and myocarditis of the heart.
The three cases brought to Wild Vet in Sydney last week have not yet been confirmed, but chief veterinarian Dr Emma Hall shared details of the cases with Yahoo News to help pet owners recognize the symptoms. “There are two cases where we are almost certain that they have chlamydia, and there is another case where we are very suspicious. This is a serious disease because it is a notifiable disease to the Ministry of Health,” she said. .
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Mr. Hall has had two bacterial infections and knows personally how serious they can be. “I had pneumonia once. The second time I walked into the doctor's office, a bird flew straight into my shoulder and sneezed in my face, then I tested positive for chlamydia. So I ended up taking antibiotics right away because I knew I must have an infection,” she said.
What symptoms do birds infected with Chlamydia psittaci exhibit?
If you suspect your bird is sick, don't panic. Probably needs veterinary attention. Like humans, birds affected by this disease can be treated and often recover completely. Symptoms include swollen eyes, diarrhea, weakness, ruffled wings, poor feeding, and runny nose and eyes.
“It can affect any species. It's more common in birds that come from pet stores or that have recently entered areas that don't have proper quarantine measures or bird testing,” Hall said. Ta.
There is no vaccine for chlamydia, so Hall suggests testing all new pet birds. Learn more about this disease here.
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