Definition

1. Noun:
   • A disease of birds: An infectious disease that can affect various bird species, especially parrots and related birds, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci.
   • A human disease: An atypical pneumonia or respiratory infection in humans, contracted from infected birds, characterized by fever, headache, and cough.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The veterinarian diagnosed the parrot with psittacosis.
  • Avian breeders must be aware of the symptoms of psittacosis in their flocks.
  • The patient was hospitalized with a severe case of psittacosis after cleaning a birdcage.

Advanced Usage

• "Ornithosis": This is a broader, sometimes synonymous term for psittacosis, referring to the disease in both birds and humans, particularly when contracted from birds other than psrots.
  • The outbreak was initially thought to be psittacosis but was later classified as ornithosis due to the source being pigeons.

Variants and Related Words

• Parrot fever: A common, informal name for psittacosis, directly referencing its association with parrots.
  • "Parrot fever" is a layman's term for psittacosis.

Synonyms

• Ornithosis: (Medical) A term often used interchangeably with psittacosis.
• Chlamydiosis: (Medical) A general term for infection with bacteria, which can include psittacosis.

Notes

• Psittacosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals (birds) to humans.
• The term is derived from the Greek word , meaning "parrot," reflecting the disease's early association with these birds.

Noun

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