| Funny you should mention carrots, Brian. Check out the last bullet in the
recommendation section of the following article.
A columnist for Bird Talk magazine (and DVM) has received a copy of the
study and considers it to be a valid study. The following article is from
the February 1993 Bird Talk, page 61 (copied without permission).
I'd like to add that if ANYONE wanted to hush up this study, it would be
organizations like magazines whose readerships are bird owners. I'm glad
Bird Talk had the guts to address this issue.
Roseanne
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BIRD TALK Magazine
Causes and Cures
by Margaret Wissman, D.V.M.
Lung Cancer Linked to Birdkeeping
We have received many letters from concerned bird owners since the
publishing of a recent medical report linking pet bird ownership with
an increased occurrence of lung cancer. Many newspapers, both local
and national, summarized this report in articles.
Before allowing this study to cause a panic among bird owners, let's
analyze the facts. Dr. Kohlmeier, the primary researcher in this study,
was kind enough to allow me to interview her directly, and she also
sent me a copy of her study. Understandably, the publishing of her
findings caused an inundation of phone calls and letters to her. Dr.
Kohlmeier is a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health.
Previous studies done worldwide show that workers chronically exposed
to chicken manure have an eightfold increased chance of developing lung
cancer, and that pigeon fanciers can have up to a twentyfold increased
risk. Another study, researched in the Netherlands, showed that
keeping birds increased the risk of developing lung cancer.
Dr. Kohlmeier's study, conducted in former West Berlin, did show a
link between keeping pet birds and in increased risk of developing lung
cancer. The study took into account independent variables such as
cigarette smoking, passive smoking, vitamin-C intake, beta-carotene
intake and occupational risks for lung cancer (such as asbestos workers,
miners, metal workers, chemical plant workers, carpet layers and people
exposed to exhaust fumes). The highest risk for developing lung cancer
comes from, not surprisingly, cigarette smoking. Occupational workers
exposed to hazardous substances had a threefold increase in lung cancer
risk.
Comparing bird-owning families to those without birds, the study
showed that keeping pet birds in the home for one to five years doubled
the owners' risk of developing lung cancer. Keeping birds in the home
for more than 10 years carried a three- to eighteenfold increased risk.
These are the facts about the risks of keeping pet birds as presented
in Dr. Kohlmeier's study. What is not known at this time is WHY
keeping pet birds constitutes an increased risk of developing lung
cancer.
One theory is that the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, which can be
found in pigeon and parrot droppings, can grow in bird cages, releasing
spores into the house, and, when inhaled, these spores set off a chain
of events in the lungs. The good news is that in my practice I do not
often culture Cryptococcus, and I do a lot of fungal cultures.
The other theory is that bird feathers, feather dust or powder are
extremely irritating to human lungs, leading to cancer.
So, whether the droppings or the feather dust are involved, there are
simple ways to minimize risks for bird owners. In the future, we may
find that simply treating birds with a good systemic anti-fungal
medication may drop the risk, if indeed the Cryptococcus fungus is
involved. I am sure that as a result of this study, more research will
be done in this area of medicine.
When we better understand the possible risks of pet bird ownership,
we will be better able to advise owners about the manner in which they
keep their birds. Until that time, Dr. Kohlmeier makes these common-
sense recommendations for bird owners:
* Keep bird cages clean. Change the papers at the bottom of cages at
least every other day. Do not allow spilled food or water to stand
in the bottom of cages. Break down cages regularly and thoroughly
clean perches, bars, and dishes.
* Do not let birds fly free in the home. Keep your birds' wings
clipped for your health as well as for the safety of your birds.
* Keep good air circulation in the room where the birds live. Ventilate
the room well, and consider using air purifiers or ionizers.
* Consider caging your birds in a room away from your main living areas.
Exposure time to birds matters.
* Eat a healthy diet. The study showed that eating carrots, beta-
carotenes and other anti-oxidants significantly reduced the risk of
lung cancer from keeping pet birds. Carrots and beta-carotene
(found in canary color-food) can negate the increased risks
tremendously when ingested by people.
Based on this study, I am certainly not getting rid of my beloved pet
pet birds. What I WILL do, however, is continue to follow sound medical,
health, and hygiene practices. I will also continue to recommend
periodic checkups for pet birds, including Chlamydia testing, bacterial
and FUNGAL cultures, to minimize risks of owners contracting diseases
contagious to humans. I recommend that bird owners keep their pets'
cages scrupulously clean, and that they discuss taking a daily beta-
carotene supplement with their human physician. That canary color food
is looking better all the time. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to
go clean bird cages!
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| Not wanting to add to the confusion but still:
I nearly died of Psittacosis some eight years ago. This is a specific
form of Ornithosis and is a bit more virile.
It is distributed through dust of dried dropping and inhaled through
trhe lungs. This is usually the where the infection starts as well.
In another study done over here in the Netherlands is was found that
this desease is not uncommon among bird-keepers and is nearly always
diagnosed as a bad cold.
Usually the body can cope and there is no increased risc. However if
in the family of a bird-keeper a case of sudden, very high, fever
should occur, the bird-keeping should be mentioned to the doctor.
In my case there were non of the usual, indicating, lung problems and
therefor the desease was incorrectly diagnosed. I was all gone from
this world so it all went past me. For days I had an extremely high fever
and I was kept in isolation as they could find no cause. After several
days of 41.5 degrees centigrade my wife gave permissiondecided to use the
wide-spectrum antibiotic option. This luckily brought down the temp.
but might as well have killed me.
I could return home after 4 weeks hospitalisation. It took another
three month for me to read a bookpage without forgetting what was on
the last one. A lot more time went by before I could complete a
telephone call whilst remembering who I was talking to.
I did almost recover completely but still have a anomality showing in
my EEG, a continuous beep in my right ear and occasionally problems
concentrating.
My birds were tested and no infection was found. They had not been the
source. From an anti-body count they established that my wife had been
affected too. She however had only been consious of a bad cold. We
may have picked it up anywhere but from our own birds!
Psittacosis is not dangerous and easy to treat IF DIAGNOSED.
So apart from the very real increased risc of cancer due to the dust be
aware of Psittacosis as well.
Nothing to do away your birds for but like looking left and right
before you cross the street, or like having sex; just use a condom.
Btw: I still keep cockatoos and, like sex, wouldn't dream of parting
with it.
Peter
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