Exposure to parakeets and bronchiolitis obliterans

Case report of a 64-year-old woman with increasing dyspnea and cough. She cared at home for 8 parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus). Subsequent studies revealed a restrictive pulmonary defect and transbronchial biopsy, a histological bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). No significant elevated anti-avian IgG could be detected, probably because of a transient hypogammaglobulinaemia. The implication of antigenic exposure to avian antigens in the pathogenesis of BO is discussed.