Brote de psitacosis en la localidad de Fontana (Chaco, Argentina) durante enero de 2014

Abstract

Psittacosis is an immediate notifiable disease which transmission to human beings can occur through direct or indirect contact with infected birds or contaminated material. Considering that the last case in Chaco, northeastern Argentina took place in 2004, prompt epidemiologic participation was initiated for the investigation of a suspected outbreak to prevent the occurrence of newly affected. The research was conducted under the guidelines of "outbreak study" recommended by health authorities. The case involved a male person with symptoms that resembled those of psittacosis, and history of contact with a psittacine bird. Descriptive study was developed through semi-structured interviews with patients, their families and physicians, for data gathering. Biological samples from the bird were collected and chemoprophylaxis was indicated for all those who were in direct and indirect contact with the bird. By means of chain polymerase reaction (PCR), laboratory confirmed the presence of Chlamydia psittaci, thus confirming a psittacosis outbreak in Chaco, Argentina.