A Suspected Case of Paittacosis

Abstract

A 42 years old man was suspected of suffening from psittacosis. The disease began with a continuing high fever and diarrhea. The fever subsided by chloromycetin in 4 days. Recurred signs and symptoms such as coughing, sputum, ronchus at the right lower back and fever were benefitially combatted by another application of 8 grams of chioromycetin.
All the clinical investigations aiming at typhoid fever failed. Atypical pneumonia was next suspected from a series of X ray examinations showing a marked shadow on the right hilum. Cold hemagglutination test by O-type human erythrocytes, however, was negative.
On the other hand, the complement fixation test for psittacosis turned positive in 32 times dilution on the 30th day and the 68th day, the antibody titer coming down to 8 times on the 166th day.
It was learned in addition that the patient had kept many birds including a parrot before falling ill. He had not only looked after them, but also kissed them directly. Birds died successively after the breakout of the disease. These facts together with the above montioned clinical observations would be enough to diagnose psittacosis.