Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
parrot disease

parrot disease

6.1
An illness in parrots caused by bacteria that can pass to people
  • noun
  • /ˈpærət dɪˈziz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : psitacosis
  • Humans can contract parrot disease if they are exposed to infected birds.

Examples

  • Parrots in the aviary were quarantined after several showed signs of parrot disease.

  • Veterinarians recommend regular check-ups to help prevent outbreaks of parrot disease among pet birds.

  • The vet diagnosed the bird with parrot disease.

  • Many pet owners are concerned about parrot disease.

  • Veterinarians recommend regular vaccinations to prevent parrot disease in pet birds.

  • Exposure to infected birds can lead to parrot disease in humans, so safety precautions are essential.

  • After a few parrots became ill, the bird sanctuary took measures to control parrot disease.

Synonyms

psittacosis
vsparrot disease
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A disease you can get from birds that causes flu-like symptoms

is the general term for the bird illness that can infect people
parrot fever
vsparrot disease
  • Specialized
7.2

An infection people get from sick birds, often parrots, that causes lung illness

is the bird illness name that can also describe human cases
ornithosis
vsparrot disease
  • Specialized
9.9

An illness people catch from sick birds that harms the lungs

refers specifically to the infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci in birds and people

Surface Forms

parrot disease singular
parrot diseases plural

Morphology

parrot + disease

The phrase is directly compositional: combining 'parrot' (a bird) with 'disease' naturally yields 'a disease affecting parrots,' so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the meaning. The expression follows common noun+noun disease-naming patterns (even if the technical label 'psittacosis' is unfamiliar), making it predictable across languages.

Etymology

Parrot disease was named because people first noticed the illness in people who kept or worked with parrots. The birds carried the infection and could pass it to humans, so the name joins the bird, parrot, and the sickness, disease, and now means 'an infection from parrots that can affect people'.