The veterinary authorities in Singapore sent an Immediate Notification dated 29 August to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report covers the first occurrence in the country of Chlamydophila psittaci. It was in an Amazon parrot, which showed signs of illness on 21 July. The bird belonged to a private owner who kept two other birds - a macaw and a lovebird - which were subsequently found not to be infected.

The sick Amazon parrot died on 25 July 2013 despite receiving veterinary care. Surveillance was carried out at the owner’s premises and all the in contact birds were clinically healthy. Faecal swabs were collected and tested negative for C. psittaci by PCR.

As the bird had been purchased a week previously, the pet shop that had sold the bird was traced and surveillance carried out at the shop. None of the birds present showed clinical signs of avian chlamydiosis. Faecal swabs from the birds tested negative.

The event was described as 'resolved' on 7 August 2013.

Further investigations revealed that the bird was imported in June 2013, the report concluded.

Chlamydiosis is an infection of turkeys, ducks, psittacines, pigeons, Man and rarely chickens; the bacterium of highly variable pathogenicity.