In the UK the infected birds are usually newly imported from the wild, particularly from south america. This causes a pneumonia-like illness rather than any longterm breathing problems. The infection is called psitticosis and is uncommon in birds reared in captivity. The bird is usually ill (off its seed, green stools, lethargic). PsitticosisOccasionally infection can spread from birds to people. Dying from acute bird fanciers lung is extremely rare. They should go down, and usually become negative after about 3 years of avoiding exposure. You can see if you are still being exposed to the bird antigens by repeated measurements of your IgG antibodies against the bird proteins. If the disease is acute, with weight loss being prominent, substantial recovery should be the norm. There are a few who get worse even when exposure ceases. There are pigeon breeders who keep their pigeons, reduce their exposures and stay well ( Bourke Thorax 1989 44:415-418 - this paper is very technical). It takes a long time to remove all the bloom from a house or other environment, so if a test is needed to see if the birds are the cause it is better to move the person than the bird (an excuse for a holiday away from home for 4 weeks). Blood can be sent to Dr C McSharry, Department of immunology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, G11 6NT.įurther exposure to the bloom (or dust from dried droppings) can make the disease worse. The racing pigeons association laboratory in Glasgow, UK provides the reference service. There is a lot of cross over between antigens (the things sufferers are allergic to) from different birds and most people think that testing for pigeons and budgerigars is sufficient and will pick out allergy to other birds. There are however more people with antibodies than disease (ie the antibodies can be harmless).
A blood test is availble to check for antibodies to avian proteins which is suggestive of disease. It will recurr when in contact with the birds. It gets better when away from birds, and may need other treatment such as steroids. This can be a fairly serious disease with breathlessness, fever, weight loss but not usually with wheeze. Outdoor birds are generally too far away to be a problem. Chickens on the other hand are usually very scruffy and allergy to chickens is uncommon.īirds visiting your garden are an unlikely cause, most problems occur from birds kept indoors or in breeders. Most good quality flying birds keep their feathers in good condition, resulting in lots of bloom. The droppings can also be a problem if they dry and are inhaled. It comes from the preen gland (also known as oil gland or uropygial gland) found under the base of the birds' tail and is spread over the feathers with the beak. The main agent that causes the allergy is the bloom on the feathers (the dust that comes off which keeps the feathers sliding nicely over each other). Breathlessness and tiredness are common symptoms, many also lose weight. It is an inflammation of the parts of the lung were oxygen is taken into the blood. In America "allergic alveolitis" is usually called "hypersensitivity pneumonitis". Allergic Alveolitis (Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in USA)Bird fancier's lung is a type of allergic alveolitis ("alveoli" are the air sacs in the lungs and "itis" means inflamed).
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