Taylor K A, Durrheim D, Heller J, O'Rourke B, Hope K, Merritt T, Freeman P, Chicken C, Carrick J, Branley J, Massey P
Population Health Unit, Hunter New England Local Health, Wallsend, NSW, Australia.
School of Public Health and Medical Practice, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2018 Feb;65(1):218-221. doi: 10.1111/zph.12391. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
Psittacosis is a rare but potentially fatal zoonosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci, an organism that is typically associated with bird contact. However C. psittaci is capable of infecting other non-avian hosts, such as horses, sheep, cattle and goats. Stud staff and veterinarians have significant exposure to parturient animals and reproductive materials in their routine work. To investigate the zoonotic potential associated with the emergence of C. psittaci as an abortifacient agent in horses, we established a programme of joint human and animal surveillance in a sentinel horse-breeding region in Australia. This programme comprised cross-notification of equine cases to public health agencies, and active follow-up of known human contacts, including stud workers, foaling staff, veterinarians and laboratory staff. We identified no confirmed cases of acute psittacosis despite intensive surveillance and testing of heavily exposed contacts; however, further work in the area is needed.
鹦鹉热是一种由鹦鹉衣原体引起的罕见但可能致命的人畜共患病，该病原体通常与鸟类接触有关。然而，鹦鹉衣原体能够感染其他非禽类宿主，如马、绵羊、牛和山羊。种马场工作人员和兽医在日常工作中会大量接触分娩动物和生殖材料。为了调查鹦鹉衣原体作为马的流产病原体出现所带来的人畜共患病风险，我们在澳大利亚一个定点马匹养殖地区开展了一项人畜联合监测计划。该计划包括将马的病例交叉通报给公共卫生机构，并对已知的人类接触者，包括种马场工作人员、产驹工作人员、兽医和实验室工作人员进行积极随访。尽管对高度暴露的接触者进行了密集监测和检测，但我们未发现确诊的急性鹦鹉热病例；不过，该领域仍需进一步开展工作。
