Table 3.
Summary of main pet bird zoonotic diseases
| Disease | Pathology | Clinical issue | Asymptomatic shedding | Transmission route | OIE listed disease | Risk for humans* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chlamydophilosis |
Systemic |
Fatal |
yes |
D/I/V |
Yes |
high |
|
Salmonellosis |
Digestive to systemic |
Treatable |
yes |
D/I/V |
No |
moderate |
|
Tuberculosis |
Respiratory to systemic |
Fatal |
no |
D/I/V |
Yes |
high |
|
Campylobacteriosis |
Digestive to systemic |
Treatable |
yes |
D/I/V |
No |
moderate |
|
Lyme disease |
|
None |
no |
V |
No |
low |
|
Avian Influenza |
Systemic |
Fatal |
no |
D/V? |
Yes |
high |
|
West Nile fever and other arboviruses |
Respiratory to systemic |
Fatal |
yes |
V |
Yes (WNF) |
moderate |
|
Avian Bornavirus |
Digestive/nervous to systemic |
Fatal |
no |
D |
No |
null |
|
Newcastle disease |
Ocular To Systemic |
Mild to fatal |
yes |
D/I/V |
Yes |
low |
|
Toxoplasmosis |
Digestive |
Digestive |
yes |
I |
No |
Null to low |
|
Giardiosis (G. duodenalis) |
Digestive to systemic |
Treatable |
yes |
I |
No |
moderate |
|
Cryptosporidiosis |
Digestive |
Treatable |
yes |
I |
No |
moderate |
| Cryptococcosis | Digestive | Treatable | yes | I | No | moderate |
*when handling a bird without hygienic precautions.
Legend: D = direct contact; I = Indirect contact; V = vector-mediated contact.