Definition

Noun: - Psittacosis; a specific infectious disease of birds, especially psittacine birds (parrots, parakeets, etc.), that can also infect humans: "Parrot disease" is the common name for psittacosis, a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci. It primarily affects birds but is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, typically causing respiratory illness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The veterinarian diagnosed the sick macaw with parrot disease after it showed signs of lethargy and respiratory distress.
  • Public health officials issued a warning about parrot disease following several cases linked to a pet store.
  • Parrot disease (psittacosis) in humans can range from a mild flu-like illness to severe pneumonia.

Advanced Usage

• "An outbreak of parrot disease": Refers to a sudden occurrence of multiple cases of psittacosis in a bird population or human community.
  • The aviary was quarantined due to an outbreak of parrot disease.

Variants and Related Words

• Psittacosis (n): The formal medical and scientific term for parrot disease.
  • The patient was treated for psittacosis after exposure to infected birds.
• Ornithosis (n): A broader term for the disease when it occurs in various types of birds, not exclusively parrots.
  • While often called parrot disease, ornithosis can affect pigeons and poultry as well.

Synonyms

• Psittacosis: The direct synonym and technical term.
• Chlamydiosis (avian): A related clinical term referring to infection by bacteria of the genus in birds.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "parrot disease" is primarily used in a medical, veterinary, or public health context. Its core meaning is the specific infectious disease, psittacosis. It is not used idiomatically or metaphorically in common language.

Noun

1. infectious disease of birds