ˌsid.ə̇ˈkōsə̇s, -d.ēˈk- noun
( plural psittaco·ses -ōˌsēz)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin psittacus parrot + -osis
: an infectious disease of birds that is caused by a rickettsia of the genus Chlamydia ( C. psittaci ), is marked by diarrhea and wasting, and is transmissible to man in whom it is usually manifested as an atypical pneumonia accompanied by high fever ; especially : the form of this disease that originates in psittacine birds — see ornithosis