2012-11-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Veterinary Team continues to monitor flock following confirmation of one instance of psittacosis
WHO: As a precautionary measure, the Boundless Budgies parakeet aviary has been temporarily closed. A histopathology report from a deceased parakeet has indicated the presence of psittacosis, a bacterial infection that can cause respiratory problems in birds and humans. This is the first known instance of this disease in the parakeet collection at Zoo Atlanta.
WHAT: Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever or ornithosis, primarily affects parrots, parakeets, macaws, lovebirds and cockatoos.
The parakeet collection is treated with antibiotics once a year in an effort to reduce the likelihood of birds contracting the disease, which can appear with no identifiable exposure or risk factor. Over the next several weeks, the Veterinary Team will pursue flock testing and observation and will decontaminate the aviary before the venue will be reopened to the public.
The exhibit is being closed because psittacosis may be transmitted to humans through direct handling of infected birds or inhalation of bacteria from bird feces or organic debris. Symptoms in humans are generally mild and may include fever, headache, rash, muscle aches, chills, and upper or lower respiratory tract infections.
Despite the prevalence of pet birds, in a four-year period from 2005 through 2009, only 66 human cases of psittacosis were reported by the CDC. These cases generally occur after exposure to pet birds, usually cockatiels, parakeets, parrots and macaws.
“We routinely conduct necropsies so that we can be as proactive as possible about detecting the presence of disease in our collection, and this is the first example of psittacosis in these parakeets that we have seen at Zoo Atlanta,” said Hayley Murphy, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services. “The Veterinary Team is taking every appropriate action to test and treat the parakeet flock. We continue to proactively monitor any circumstance which would affect our animal collection or our guests.”
WHERE: Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Avenue, S.E.
Atlanta, Ga. 30315
CONTACT: Keisha N. Hines, Director of Public Relations and Communications
404.624.5980 – office
404.309.2238 – cell
khines@zooatlanta.org
Simone Griffin, Public Relations Coordinator
404.624.2809
sgriffin@zooatlanta.org
ABOUT: About Zoo Atlanta
An accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta inspires value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family fun. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with more than 1,500 animals from around the world. A slate of new up-close-and-personal experiences opened in spring 2012: giraffe feeding, permitting guests to hand-feed Earth’s tallest living land mammals, and Wild Encounters, three new behind-the-scenes adventures with African elephants, giant pandas and Komodo dragon. Other highlights include the nation’s largest collection of western lowland gorillas, the nation’s largest zoological collection of orangutans and a global center of excellence for the care and study of vanishing reptiles and amphibians. The Zoo is open daily with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife shows, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, call 404.624.WILD or visit zooatlanta.org.
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