What does ornithosis mean?
Ornithosis is an infectious disease associated with birds. The term is especially associated with psittacosis, a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci and commonly transmitted through contact with infected birds, their droppings, or contaminated material. It may refer to the disease in birds or to infection in humans acquired from them. Because ornithosis is relatively uncommon in general usage, the more specific term psittacosis is often preferred in medical and public-health discussions. In veterinary contexts, the word identifies an outbreak or infection among birds and is useful when describing a disease without immediately specifying its cause. Its name reflects this association with birds: it combines the Greek word for bird with a suffix denoting a disease or abnormal condition.
nounAn infectious disease associated with birds, especially psittacosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci.
- An infectious disease associated with birds, especially psittacosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci.
"Veterinary authorities confirmed that the outbreak was an ornithosis."
"The laboratory results helped diagnose the ornithosis in the flock."
"Wildlife officials warned that the ornithosis could spread among infected birds."
The plural is used when referring to distinct cases, types, or outbreaks of the disease.
"Several avian ornithoses were documented during the survey."
The name points directly to its host: Greek órnis means “bird.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ornithosis come from?
Ornithosis was formed from Greek órnis, meaning “bird,” and the suffix -osis, indicating a disease or abnormal condition. The resulting term follows the established pattern of modern medical vocabulary for naming diseases associated with particular organisms or tissues. It is a cognate of ornithology and ornithologist, which likewise derive from Greek roots referring to birds.
How ornithosis is actually used
This is specialist terminology found chiefly in veterinary, medical, and epidemiological contexts. In human medicine, it is often used interchangeably with psittacosis, the disease transmitted by infected birds.
Easily confused with ornithosis
Psittacosis names the specific disease caused by Chlamydia psittaci, whereas ornithosis is a broader term for an infectious disease associated with birds.