Psittacosis laboratory tests

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]Omodamola Aje B.Sc, M.D. [3]

Overview

Exposure history is critical to diagnosis. In psittacosis patients, complete blood count shows leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and moderately elevated liver enzymes.

Laboratory Findings

Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies

• Leukocytosis
• Increased ESR
• Increased CRP
• Elevated Liver enzymes
• Rise in creatinine kinase
• Hyponatremia may be noticed
• Rise in blood urea nitrogen levels
• Urinalysis may show proteinuria

Culture

• Culture of C. psittaci is demanding and requires a level 3 laboratory isolation facility because of the risk of laboratory transmission, so it is rarely performed.
• Microbiological cultures from respiratory secretions.
• Culture of Chlamydia psittaci is hazardous and should only be carried out in biosafety laboratories.
• It is a tedious process and seldom done.

Serology

Serology is the principal method of confirming the diagnosis of C. psittaci. There are two types of serologic tests available:

• Microimmunofluorescent antibody test (MIF): The MIF test is the most sensitive and specific serologic test for C. psittaci but is only available in special laboratories.

• Complement fixation (CF): It is the most widely available test but cannot differentiate among the chlamydial species.

Nucleic Acid Amplification

• PCR techniques have been utilized in outbreaks for several years and can give a rapid, specific diagnosis, which is particularly important in severe infection.

Monoclonal antibody techniques

• More research is needed to support the efficacy and sensitivity of monoclonal antibody tests.