Human Psittacosis in Milwaukee County Associated with Parakeets and Pigeons

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eight cases of psittacosis in human beings occurred in Milwaukee County in 1962 and 1963, 4 attributed to exposures to pet parakeets and 4 to infected caged pigeons. Six of the 8 cases were confirmed serologically; of the 6, 3 were associated with pigeons and 3 with parakeets. Serum specimens were obtained from 40 caged pigeons associated directly or indirectly with the psittacosis cases and from 95 wild pigeons collected in various parts of the city of Milwaukee and adjacent areas in Milwaukee County. All were tested for psittacosis complement fixing antibody. A group of caged pigeons also were tested for neutralizing antibody. Complement fixation reactor rates associated with the caged pigeons ranged from 16 to 71% compared with 0 to 12% for wild pigeons, from which it is concluded that caged pigeons are potentially more hazardous sources of human infections than wild pigeons.