What is "psittacosis"

n. (context disease English) An infection by ''Chlamydia'' bacteria, caught from infected birds, and characterised by fever, pneumonia and headaches.

1. n. infectious disease of birds [syn: parrot disease]

2. an atypical pneumonia caused by a rickettsia microorganism and transmitted to humans from infected birds [syn: parrot fever, ornithosis]

Psittacosis — also known as parrot fever, and ornithosis — is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Chlamydophila psittaci and contracted from infected parrots, such as macaws, cockatiels and budgerigars, and pigeons, sparrows, ducks, hens, gulls and many other species of bird. The incidence of infection in canaries and finches is believed to be lower than in psittacine birds.

In certain contexts, the word "psittacosis" is used when the disease is carried by any species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, whereas "ornithosis" is used when other birds carry the disease.