Psiticosis

[sandyRoe]

A friend of a friend recently got a young African Grey parrot.

It's very friendly, speaks well, and he's trained it to sit on his shoulder and take peanuts from his lips.

Could a bird be a host for a disease without showing symptoms?

[barry1010]

Yes.  That's why it's so dangerous.  

[wolf63]

Psittacosis:

Google says...

"In birds, the symptoms include poor appetite, ruffled appearance, eye or nose discharge, green or yellow-green droppings, and diarrhea (loose droppings). Occasionally, birds may die from the disease. Some birds may shed the bacteria while exhibiting only mild or no symptoms."

 the answer seems to be Maybe!

[barry1010]

Also from Google:

"Not all birds infected with C psittaci appear sick. These birds are called carriers. They appear healthy but may become ill and shed the bacteria during times of stress (e.g., battling another infection, changing diet, or living in a crowded environment). Species including budgies, cockatiels and cockatoos are more likely to be carriers, while lorikeets, canaries and rosellas are more likely to become sick and show symptoms."

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&;id=9719484

[rowanwitch]

Maybe ditch the peanut passing... But a parrot owning pal always wore a face mask when cleaning out his African grey, and was very strict with hygiene, using special cage cleaning sprays, and wiping down surfaces the parrot hopped around on.  I do the mask thing when cleaning out my canary too, and was my hands with antibacterial handwash  after I have finished.

[barry1010]

Must be very careful when scraping the perches clean.  Always did it outdoors with a mask and rubber gloves.

[sandyRoe]

Thank you all.

I'll pass the message on but whether he heeds it I don't know.

[barry1010]

If he got the parrot from a good, experienced breeder there is unlikely to be any problem.

[Old_Geezer]

My understanding is that all animals might give you issues. If you want a pet that is a minor risk you take. Seems a strange thing to want to train him to do though. Are you sure it isn't the parrot that trained your friend ?

[barry1010]

My cockatiels did the same thing, when they were perching on my chest.  I didn't have to train them.  

 

[sandyRoe]

Old_Geezer,

That could well be the way of it.

My new cat, for example, comes into my room at four in the morning meowing for food.  

[pastafreak]

All cat owners know their beloved pets will train them...one way or another. 

My boy sleeps through the night like a good baby. But as soon as he hears my alarm, he's on the bed fussing. Then attacks my feet until he's fed. They have their ways.

[andres]

 You can get psittacosis from parrots,cockatiels, budgies,parakeets and lots of other bird species.  Definitely take care should the bird be showing signs of this disease.  

[bhg481]

Yes. My wife volunteered to look after her boss's African Grey when he went on holiday. Our budgie had fit and died.

[jackthehat]

I contracted Psittacosis.

I popped into a house where there was a parrot, only briefly. The owners never had any problems but the medics couldn't think of anywhere else I could have contracted it.

I was very poorly with a lung infection; I didn't bother my GP as I smoked at the time and anyone turning up with a cough, etc. at my surgery was dealt with in a quite offhand manner if they admitted to smoking.

Eventually, I ended up in an isolation room in hospital with meningitis. The blood tests/lumber puncture showed that psittacosis was the culprit. Although I wasn't hospitalised for long, it took me months to recover and my memory took a real hammering. I couldn't even finish the Sun crossword!! LoL

I don't know if I have developed any sort of immunity but I am wary of entering houses where there are caged birds, particularly parrots, and most of my family are of a similar view after watching how it affected me.

[sandyRoe]

jackthehat,

That's a frightening story.  I hope you've fully recovered.

[jackthehat]

It was at the time of the BSE panic.

My family refer to it as my 'mad parrot disease'.

It has left me with nothing other than a fondness for brightly patterned plastic macs and a propensity to smack my head against mirrors......🤣🤣

[Spungle]

Yes, when I bred parrots I always used an FFP3 mask when clearing them out.  I have had friends VERY ill, nearly dying of what's known as 'birdkeepers lung'.