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.
Yao et al. (Tue,) studied this question.