Signs and Symptoms

In People

In general, psittacosis causes mild illness. The most common symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Dry cough

Psittacosis can also cause pneumonia (a lung infection) that may require treatment or care in a hospital. Rarely, psittacosis can result in death.

Most people begin developing signs and symptoms within 5 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci). Less commonly, people report symptoms starting after 14 days.

In Birds

The signs of C. psittaci infection in birds are non-specific and include:

• Poor appetite
• Inflamed eyes
• Breathing difficulty
• Diarrhea

Infected birds may not have symptoms or seem sick. When birds have symptoms caused by C. psittaci infection, veterinarians call the disease avian chlamydiosis.

References

• Balsamo G, Maxted AM, Midla JW, et al. Compendium of measures to control Chlamydia psittaci infection among humans (psittacosis) and pet birds (avian chlamydosis), 2017Cdc-pdfExternal. J Avian Med Surg. 2017;31(3):262–82.
• Beeckman DSA, Vanrompay DCG. Zoonotic Chlamydophila psittaci infections from a clinical perspectiveExternal. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009;15(1):11–7.