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Psittacosis outbreak in Tayside, Scotland, December 2011 to February 2012
C C McGuigan1, P G McIntyre, K Templeton
1Directorate of Public Health, NHS Tayside, Kings Cross Hospital, Dundee, UK. chris.mcguigan@nhs.net
Summary
A Tayside psittacosis outbreak suggests human-to-human transmission. Genetic analysis of Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis) showed no strain differences, supporting this transmission route.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Psittacosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci, typically results from avian exposure.
- Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for outbreak control.
Observation:
- A psittacosis outbreak occurred in Tayside between December 2011 and February 2012.
- Three confirmed and one probable cases were identified.
- Epidemiological data suggested person-to-person spread.
Findings:
- Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from confirmed cases revealed no genetic distinctions.
- Illness onset dates aligned with the known incubation period of psittacosis.
- No single common exposure source explained all infections, including a healthcare worker case linked to the index case.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that human-to-human transmission of psittacosis may occur during outbreaks.
- This highlights the importance of considering non-avian sources and direct human contact in psittacosis investigations.
- Enhanced infection control measures in healthcare settings may be warranted during psittacosis outbreaks.
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