An outbreak of psittacosis due to Chlamydophila psittaci genotype A in a veterinary teaching hospital.
An outbreak of psittacosis in a veterinary teaching hospital was recognized in December 2004. Outbreak management was instituted to evaluate the extent of the outbreak and to determine the avian source. Real-time PCR, serologic testing and sequencing of the ompA gene of Chlamydophila psittaci were performed. Sputum samples from patients, throat-swab samples from exposed students and staff, and faecal specimens from parrots and pigeons were tested. In this outbreak, 34 % (10/29) of the tested individuals were infected. The clinical features of the infection ranged from none to sepsis with multi-organ failure requiring intensive-care-unit admission. C. psittaci genotype A was identified as the outbreak strain. Parrots, recently exposed to a group of cockatiels coming from outside the teaching facility, which were used in a practical class, appeared to be the source of the outbreak. One of the tested pigeons harboured an unrelated C. psittaci genotype B strain. The microbiological diagnosis by real-time PCR on clinical specimens allowed for rapid outbreak management; subsequent genotyping of the isolates identified the avian source. Recommendations are made to reduce the incidence and extent of future outbreaks.
Heddema
Edou R
ER
Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van Hannen
Erik J
EJ
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Duim
Birgitta
B
Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
de Jongh
Bartelt M
BM
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Kaan
Jan A
JA
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessen Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Kessel
Rob
R
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hygiene, Municipal Health Service, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Lumeij
Johannes T
JT
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Visser
Caroline E
CE
Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Vandenbroucke-Grauls
Christina M J E
CMJE
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
D000328:Adult; D046708:Amazona; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C078167:OMPA outer membrane proteins