C. psittaci infection: a review with emphasis in psittacines/Infeccao por C. psittaci: uma revisao com enfase em psitacideos

Chlamydiosis or ornitosis is an infectious disease which affects birds and mammals caused by the bacteria Chlamydophila psittaci. It is one of the most important avian zoonosis. The transmission occurs through inhalation of infected secretions. The most common clinical signs include problems in the gastrointestinal, respiratory and ocular tracts. However, it is possible to find infected birds with no clinical signs, which hinders the diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis in live birds can be difficult, because of the bacteria's infection characteristic. There are two main approaches to the diagnosis, the first one involves the direct detection of the bacteria, the second one involves the detection of antibodies anti-Chlamydophila sp. The treatment is long and includes the use of tetraciclines, quinolones and macrolides, during 21-45 days, depending of the specie or drug of choice. Currently, Brazil has no standardized procedures to guide clinicians in the identification, management, and treatment of the disease. Such measures become necessary, as well as research on new diagnostic methods. Key words: Chlamydophila psittaci, avian zoonosis, chlamydiosis, psittacosis, psittacine birds. A clamidiose ou ornitose e uma doenca infecciosa, causada pela bacteria Chlamydophila psittaci, que acomete aves e mamiferos. Trata-se de uma das principais zoonoses de origem aviaria. A transmissao ocorre principalmente por inalacao de secrecoes contaminadas. Os sinais clinicos mais comuns incluem alteracoes no sistema gastrointestinal, respiratorio e ocular, porem e possivel encontrar aves infectadas sem sinais aparentes, dificultando a identificacao da doenca. O diagnostico definitivo em aves vivas pode ser dificil, devido as caracteristicas da infeccao pela bacteria. Ha duas principais abordagens para o diagnostico, a primeira envolve a deteccao direta da bacteria e a segunda implica a deteccao de anticorpos anti-Chlamydophila sp. O tratamento e longo e envolve o uso de tetraciclinas, quinolonas ou macrolideos, durante 21-45 dias, dependendo da especie e do farmaco de escolha. Atualmente, o Brasil nao dispoe de medidas padronizadas que visam a guiar o clinico na identificacao, manejo e tratamento para a doenca. Tais medidas tornam-se necessarias, bem como a pesquisa de novos metodos diagnosticos e auxiliares para a doenca. Palavras-chave: Chlamydophila psittaci, zoonose aviaria, clamidiose, psitacose, psitacideos.