Psittacosis Europe in 1879. In 1929, a highly publicized outbreak of psittacosis hit the United States. Although not the first report of psittacosis in the United States, it was the largest up to that time. It led to greater controls on the import of pet parrots. The aftermath of the outbreak and how it was handled led to the establishment of the National Institutes of Health. From 2002 through 2009, 66 human cases of psittacosis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and most resulted from exposure to infected pet birds, usually cockatiels, parakeets, and macaws. Many more
Niemann–Pick disease bone called coxa vara. Sleep-related disorders, such as sleep inversion, sleepiness during the day and wakefulness at night, may occur. Gelastic cataplexy, the sudden loss of muscle tone when the affected patient laughs, is also seen. Mutations in the "SMPD1" gene cause Niemann–Pick disease types A and B. They produce a deficiency in the activity of the lysosomal enzyme acid sphingomyelinase, that breaks down the lipid sphingomyelin. Mutations in "NPC1" or "NPC2" cause Niemann–Pick disease, type C (NPC), which affects a protein used to transport lipids. Type D originally was separated from type C to delineate a group of patients