The most common symptom of psittacosis is respiratory, since it is usually inhaled by the host. It can manifest in other ways though too. I've heard all types of cases of this dread disease. I knew a girl who worked in a quarantine station who came down with gastric symptoms from it. Another story is that of a doctor who visited a zoo that was being cleaned out. He contracted the disease and wound up in the hospital with respiratory symptoms. Birds' symptoms are almost always respiratory with anorexia and diarrhea with bright yellow-green droppings. The only good thing about it is that once diagnosed, the proper medication will eradicate it with the bird's health returning to normal in days. The bug may still remain dormant, though, in the host. It's very similar to Lyme disease and the treatment is basically the same. Anytime one who works with or around birds comes down with a serious pneumonia type of respiratory infection, it's best to have a chest x-ray and bloodwork to determine whether or not it's psittacosis. Treatment in humans lasts 2 to 3 weeks. In birds the treatment lasts 45 days. This is because the organism replicates itself every 15 days. To be certain that the replication period is caught, a 45-day treatment is prescribed. Incubation period is from 5 to 14 days or as long as 28 days.

Cleaning up afterwards is not so easy because the bug can remain dormant for up to ten years and then rear its ugly head. A good quarternary solution is best for the cleanup. Bleach will kill it, but if there is any debris in the water bucket, the bleach adheres to it rendering the rest of the solution useless.

Before the internet (can you imagine!), I telephone networked with breeders all over the globe. At that time there were mostly imports being brought in with all types of problems, psittacosis being one of them. This organism is an equal opportunity bug not favoring anything or anyone crossing its path. It is also ZOONOTIC, meaning that it is one of the very few bugs that can transport itself to humans and other animals such as cats, dogs, goats, sheep, cows. Cats are common carriers of c. psittaci.
 

From the Radio Program "Creation Moments"

Ecclesiastes 10:20

"Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter."

Mankind has been teaching birds to talk for thousands of years. Man has also been using birds to deliver messages for just as long. But new research on the intelligence of birds suggests that they might be more intelligent than we suspect.

Researchers studying pigeons have learned that they can read all of the letters of the alphabet and they read them in a way similar to people. Scientists became convinced that pigeons see the world in much the same way as we do when they discovered that pigeons tend to confuse the very same letters that people do. What's more, it took only four months for pigeons to learn to distinguish all the letters of the alphabet. For years pigeons have been used to spot and reject defective items on assembly lines, where they have better records than human beings.

Based on evolutionary theory, scientists naturally conclude that the recognition of abstract forms such as letters of the alphabet requires the larger brain. But this is an assumption and we might be reminded of the work of Harvard psychologist B. F. Skinner who made extensive use of learned behavior using pigeons. Brain size has little to do with intelligence. Real science and experience show this and disprove evolutionary views. The only alternative is that it is the Creator who gives His creatures their intelligence.

Prayer: Dear wise heavenly Father, I thank You that You have so generously provided intelligence to the animals, not only that they can make their livings, but also so they can serve man and help us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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