1. An infectious disease transmitted to humans from birds, especially parrots, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci and characterized by fever, headache, and respiratory symptoms.
Usage: medical term; also called parrot fever

Examples

• The veterinarian warned that handling infected parrots without proper protection could lead to psittacosis.
• Psittacosis outbreaks have been documented in pet bird owners and workers in poultry facilities.
• Symptoms of psittacosis typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to infected birds.
• Antibiotics are the standard treatment for psittacosis in humans.
• The disease gets its name from the Psittacidae family, which includes parrots and macaws.