Online parrot trade as a source of psittacosis caused by a novel Chlamydia psittaci ST388.

INTRODUCTION

The direct zoonotic risks associated with the growing online trade of live pets remain in adequately understood.

METHODS

We investigate a human case of severe psittacotic pneumonia in Zhejiang Province, China, in which the patient's only avian exposure was through parrots recently purchased online. Using targeted probe-capture sequencing-a method designed for uncultivable, low-biomass pathogens-we recovered 13 high-quality Chlamydia psittaci genomes directly from the patient, the asymptomatic parrots, and their shared home environment.

RESULTS

Comparative genomic analysis revealed >99.99% average nucleotide identity across all samples, providing definitive evidence of parrot-to-human transmission. The causative strain was identified as a novel sequence type (ST388) within the known virulent genotype A.

CONCLUSION

This investigation provides the first whole-genome confirmation of psittacosis transmission via online pet commerce. It establishes a practical genomic framework for investigating similar sporadic zoonoses and underscores the urgent need for targeted surveillance of this emerging and risk communication in this growing digital marketplace.