Definition

Noun: * Psittacosis: A specific infectious disease, also known as parrot fever, which is a form of atypical pneumonia. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci and is primarily transmitted to humans from infected birds, especially parrots, pigeons, and poultry.

Usage

• The term "parrot fever" is used in medical and general contexts to refer to this zoonotic disease. It is important for bird owners and veterinarians to be aware of its symptoms.
• It functions as a compound noun and is typically used without an article when referring to the disease in general, or with "the" when referring to a specific case.

Examples

• The patient was diagnosed with parrot fever after reporting close contact with a sick cockatiel.
• Parrot fever can cause high fever, headache, and a dry cough in humans.
• An outbreak of parrot fever was traced back to the aviary.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in public health communications to warn at-risk populations, such as pet bird owners and poultry workers.
• In medical literature, the more technical term "psittacosis" is generally preferred.

Variants and Related Words

• Psittacosis (n): The formal medical term for parrot fever.
• Ornithosis (n): A broader term for the same disease, emphasizing it can come from many bird species, not just parrots.

Synonyms

• Psittacosis
• Ornithosis

Notes on Different Meanings

• "Parrot fever" has only one specific meaning as a medical condition. It is not used idiomatically or in other contexts. The word "parrot" alone has separate meanings (the bird, or to repeat words without understanding).

Noun

1. an atypical pneumonia caused by a rickettsia microorganism and transmitted to humans from infected birds