Fact sheets
The Department of Health, Western Australia, does not produce fact sheets on this topic.
Public Health action
Notifiable disease data and reports
Additional sources of information
Case definition
Both confirmed cases and probable cases should be notified.
Confirmed case
A confirmed case requires laboratory definitive evidence AND clinical evidence AND epidemiological evidence.
Laboratory definitive evidence
1. A fourfold rise or greater in antibody titre against Chlamydia psittaci as demonstrated by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) on acute and convalescent sera (collected at least two weeks later) tested in parallel;
OR
2. Detection of C. psittaci by nucleic acid testing or culture.
Clinical evidence
1. Pneumonia
OR
2. AT LEAST TWO of the following: fever, headache, myalgia, rigors, dry cough or dyspnoea.
Epidemiological evidence
Exposure to birds or bird products, or proximity to an outbreak of psittacosis.
Probable case
A probable case requires laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence AND epidemiological evidence.
Laboratory suggestive evidence
1. A single high total antibody level or detection of IgM antibody to C. psittaci by MIF
OR
2. A single high total antibody titre to Chlamydia species demonstrated by complement fixation (CF) in at least one sample obtained at least two weeks after onset of symptoms
OR
3. A fourfold or greater rise in antibody titre against Chlamydia species as demonstrated by CF.
Clinical evidence
As with confirmed case.
Epidemiological evidence
As with confirmed case.
