Texas Registered Sanitarian Practice Exam 2026 - Free Sanitarian Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer is that psittacosis is transmitted by birds and their droppings. Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever, is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, which can be found in infected birds, particularly parrots, pigeons, and certain other avian species. When these birds shed the bacteria through their feces, it can become aerosolized and inhaled by humans, leading to respiratory illness.

Histoplasmosis is primarily associated with the inhalation of spores from the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which can thrive in environments contaminated with bird droppings, but it is not directly transmitted by birds themselves. Pneumonia refers to a general lung infection that can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and is not specifically related to bird droppings. West Nile Virus is transmitted through mosquito bites and is not associated with birds or their droppings directly, although birds are hosts for the virus.

Understanding these distinctions is important in recognizing how certain diseases are transmitted and the roles that animals, specifically birds, can play in public health.