[A case of psittacosis].

A 67-year-old Japanese housewife, who had been attended the out patient department of medicine, Fukuoka Dental College (FDC) Hospital for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was admitted to FDC Hospital because of high fever, exhaustion, anorexia, myalgia and mild stupor. Her ECG finding revealed atrial fibrillation and roentgenologic examination of the chest showed diffuse opacities in the left lung field (S10) without pleural effusion. As she had told her physician that her pet parakeet had been dead recently, she was diagnosed immediately as psittacosis. She was instantly treated with minocycline orally and deslanoside intravenously. Laboratory findings on admission disclosed the following results: Complement-fixing antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci were 1:64, and liver dysfunction (GOT 253, GPT 86, LDH 846) was shown. The white blood cell count was 4,700 associated with shift to the left, C-reactive protein was 6 plus and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 109 mm in 1 hour. The course in the hospital was satisfactory and after 38 hospital days she was discharged with complete recovery from the psittacosis. It is emphasized the importance of that the question about the history of contact with psittacine birds or other avian species is essential to diagnose psittacosis.