Summary

# Editorial Summary: Chlamydia psittaci in Australian Horses Chlamydia psittaci, traditionally recognised as a bird pathogen, poses an underappreciated threat to equine reproduction and represents a genuine zoonotic risk to handlers and veterinary professionals—yet our understanding of equine psittacosis remains fragmented. El-Hage and colleagues examined veterinary authority records and published case reports across Australia from 2018 to 2022, identifying 31 confirmed cases and establishing clear epidemiological patterns: disease occurrence clustered in winter and spring months and concentrated geographically within Victoria and New South Wales. The findings demonstrate that C. psittaci is a consistent, ongoing cause of equine reproductive loss in Australia, with cases distributed across multiple studs and properties rather than isolated incidents. Practitioners should routinely consider psittacosis in their diagnostic algorithms for unexplained reproductive failure—particularly during cooler months and in affected regions—and maintain heightened awareness of zoonotic transmission risk during examination and sample collection. Further investigation into transmission routes, shedding patterns, and appropriate biosecurity measures remains essential given the serious implications for both equine fertility programmes and occupational health in veterinary and stud management contexts.

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Key Findings

• •31 cases of equine C. psittaci infection were identified in Australia between 2018-2022
• •Cases were more prevalent in winter and spring months
• •Geographic distribution was restricted to Victoria and New South Wales
• •C. psittaci represents an ongoing cause of equine reproductive loss and poses zoonotic risk to humans in contact with infected horses

Conditions Studied

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