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Published on: September 6, 2011

Gestational psittacosis: a systematic review of clinical manifestations and outcomes

Jing Feng1, Yongsheng Wang1, Juan Han1

  • 1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Sichuan University Affiliated Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, No. 10, Qingyun South Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

BMC Infectious Diseases
|May 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Gestational psittacosis, a rare Chlamydia psittaci infection, poses severe risks to mothers and fetuses, with high rates of maternal complications and fetal loss. Early diagnosis using methods like metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is crucial but requires further research.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Zoonotic Infections

Background:

  • Gestational psittacosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci, is a rare but severe zoonotic infection during pregnancy.
  • This condition presents significant diagnostic challenges and impacts maternal-fetal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the clinical characteristics of gestational psittacosis.
  • To evaluate diagnostic challenges, therapeutic interventions, and maternal-fetal outcomes.
  • To assess the role of emerging diagnostic technologies like mNGS.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data) up to October 31, 2025.
  • Independent data extraction by two investigators on maternal demographics, clinical signs, lab findings, diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes.
  • Inclusion of 32 cases from 30 publications.

Main Results:

  • Median maternal age 29, median gestational age at diagnosis 26.5 weeks.
  • High maternal morbidity: 66% ICU admission, 34% intubation, 13% mortality. Common symptoms include fever, headache, cough, dyspnea.
  • Significant laboratory abnormalities: thrombocytopenia (81%), hepatic dysfunction (84%), renal impairment (56%), DIC (47%).
  • High fetal/neonatal mortality (68%), often due to stillbirth, abortion, or induction.
  • Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) shows potential for earlier diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational psittacosis is a life-threatening infection with substantial maternal morbidity and high fetal loss risk, potentially influenced by publication bias.
  • While mNGS aids diagnosis, its clinical utility in gestational psittacosis needs more research.
  • The review highlights the severity and poor outcomes associated with this rare infection.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chlamydia psittaciMaternal-fetal outcomesMetagenomic next-generation sequencingPregnancyPsittacosisSystematic review

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