Psittacosis laboratory tests
|
Psittacosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Psittacosis laboratory tests On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Psittacosis laboratory tests |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Psittacosis laboratory tests |
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[1][2][3][4]
- Leukocytosis
- Rise in ESR
- Rise in CRP
- Liver enzymes elevated
- 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.
References
- ↑ Kuwabara M, Tanemori N, Kawaguti Y, Nakamura K, Nomiyama S, Terada M; et al. (1990). "[Clinical features of 36 cases of psittacosis]". Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 64 (4): 498–503. PMID 2401812.
- ↑ Sahn SA (1988). "Pleural effusions in the atypical pneumonias". Semin Respir Infect. 3 (4): 322–34. PMID 3062725.
- ↑ Yung AP, Grayson ML (1988). "Psittacosis--a review of 135 cases". Med J Aust. 148 (5): 228–33. PMID 3343952.
- ↑ Crosse BA (1990). "Psittacosis: a clinical review". J Infect. 21 (3): 251–9. PMID 2273272.