By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on the suspected Q fever case in a veterinarian in the Los Lagos Region of Chile, the Health Ministry of the province of Osorno ruled out Q fever in the 28-year-old veterinarian who remains seriously hospitalized at the Las Condes Clinic.

Chile map/CIA

After receiving the results of the study carried out by the Institute of Public Health, the provincial head of the seremi, Vania Rojas, confirmed that the patient did become infected with another zoonotic bacteria: psittacosis.

“The result was negative for Q fever, however, this serological study tested positive for psittacosis, which is another zoonotic bacterium, so we are attentive to the treatment of this patient,” explained the authority.

The 28-year-old woman works as a veterinarian at the dairy company Manuka, and last Friday she entered the emergency service of the Osorno Base Hospital with a picture of pneumonia. Due to her seriousness, she had to be transferred to the Las Condes Clinic, in Santiago, where she is kept in the Intensive Care Unit and connected to mechanical ventilation.

Psittacosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Chlamydophila psittaci. It is usually transmitted by inhaling the agent from dried droppings or secretions of infected birds.

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Patients with psittacosis usually present fever, headache, rash, muscle pain, chills and dry cough. Pneumonia may sometimes occur, and occasional complications include encephalitis, myocarditis and thrombophlebitis.

The disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics. The disease is not normally transmitted from person to person.