Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis
<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> is an established zoonotic agent causing respiratory disease in humans. An infection often remains asymptomatic but can also result in flu-like illness, pneumonia or even multi-organ failure. This paper describes three patients, hospitalised at AZ Sint-Lucas Hos...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/65 |
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| author | Sophie Missault Anne De Meyst Jan Van Elslande Anne-Marie Van den Abeele Elke Steen Jos Van Acker Daisy Vanrompay |
| author_facet | Sophie Missault Anne De Meyst Jan Van Elslande Anne-Marie Van den Abeele Elke Steen Jos Van Acker Daisy Vanrompay |
| author_sort | Sophie Missault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> is an established zoonotic agent causing respiratory disease in humans. An infection often remains asymptomatic but can also result in flu-like illness, pneumonia or even multi-organ failure. This paper describes three patients, hospitalised at AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, with atypical pneumonia who were diagnosed with <i>C. psittaci</i> after an in-depth anamnesis and laboratory investigation in the midst of the COVID pandemic. All three infections were confirmed with PCR and serology, whereas viable bacteria were only present for one patient. Genotyping revealed the presence of genotype B for patient 1 and 2 whereas <i>ompA</i> genotyping was unsuccessful for patient 3. This case report demonstrates the importance of a thorough patient history as close contact with birds is one of the main risk factors to contract the pathogen. Once exposure to birds has been confirmed, a diagnosis by a combination of PCR and serology is essential in order to initiate a treatment with the proper antibiotics. As psittacosis is still an underestimated and underdiagnosed disease, communication between laboratory, clinicians and bird fanciers is encouraged. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:30:33Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:30:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-63e5fc0d0b404dd5a3b55a94f940445b2023-11-30T23:53:15ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-12-011216510.3390/pathogens12010065Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of PsittacosisSophie Missault0Anne De Meyst1Jan Van Elslande2Anne-Marie Van den Abeele3Elke Steen4Jos Van Acker5Daisy Vanrompay6Department of Geriatric Medicine, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory of Clinical Microbiology, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> is an established zoonotic agent causing respiratory disease in humans. An infection often remains asymptomatic but can also result in flu-like illness, pneumonia or even multi-organ failure. This paper describes three patients, hospitalised at AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, with atypical pneumonia who were diagnosed with <i>C. psittaci</i> after an in-depth anamnesis and laboratory investigation in the midst of the COVID pandemic. All three infections were confirmed with PCR and serology, whereas viable bacteria were only present for one patient. Genotyping revealed the presence of genotype B for patient 1 and 2 whereas <i>ompA</i> genotyping was unsuccessful for patient 3. This case report demonstrates the importance of a thorough patient history as close contact with birds is one of the main risk factors to contract the pathogen. Once exposure to birds has been confirmed, a diagnosis by a combination of PCR and serology is essential in order to initiate a treatment with the proper antibiotics. As psittacosis is still an underestimated and underdiagnosed disease, communication between laboratory, clinicians and bird fanciers is encouraged.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/65psittacosis<i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>atypical pneumoniazoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Missault Anne De Meyst Jan Van Elslande Anne-Marie Van den Abeele Elke Steen Jos Van Acker Daisy Vanrompay Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis Pathogens psittacosis <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> atypical pneumonia zoonosis |
| title | Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis |
| title_full | Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis |
| title_fullStr | Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis |
| title_short | Three Cases of Atypical Pneumonia with <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i>: The Role of Laboratory Vigilance in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis |
| title_sort | three cases of atypical pneumonia with i chlamydia psittaci i the role of laboratory vigilance in the diagnosis of psittacosis |
| topic | psittacosis <i>Chlamydia psittaci</i> atypical pneumonia zoonosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/65 |
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