Fatal Sarcocystis falcatula Infection in Three Penguins

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Michael W. Hyatt¹  Rachel E. Burns²  Shannon G. M. Kirejczyk³  Julia M. Ter Beest⁴  Zoltan S. Gyimesi⁴  Amelia Waltman⁶  Robert J. Ossiboff⁶  Tracie A. Seimon⁶  Michael J. Yabsley⁷  Rita McManamon⁸ 

[1] Adventure Aquarium, Camden, NJ, United States;Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States;Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States;Louisville Zoological Garden, Louisville, KY, United States;Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States;The Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States;Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States;Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States;

关键词: penguin;    protozoal pneumonia;    Sarcocystis falcatula;    apicomplexa;    Spheniscus demersus;    Eudyptes chrysocome;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fvets.2019.00340

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Sarcocystis falcatula is a well-known cause of fatal pneumonia in some birds, particularly Old World psittacines. Here we describe fatal sarcosystosis due to S. falcatula in 3 penguins (Family Spheniscidae) under managed care, including one African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), and two Southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome). Randomly distributed foci of necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltrates, edema, and variable numbers of round to elongated protozoal schizonts were observed in sections of lung. Protozoal organisms exhibited strong immunoreactivity for Sarcocystis sp. antigen by immunohistochemistry. Apicomplexan and Sarcocystis genus-specific PCR assays and sequence analysis confirmed S. falcatula as the etiologic agent. These cases of fatal pneumonia attributed to S. falcatula expand the list of aberrant intermediate avian hosts, with particular implications for penguins.

【 授权许可】

Unknown