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Size (pm) Caryospora species Owl Shape Range Mean (se) Coryospora henrye Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) Subspherical 40-43 x 36-40 41 x 37 Spherical 36-38 Caryospora bubonis Great horned owl Subspherical 38-52 x 43-9 (3.4) x (Bubo virginianus) 33-47 40 2 (2.8) Caryospora species Snowy owl Subspherical 44.5-49.5 x 39 6 (Nyctea scandiaca) Caryospora is a protozoan parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, subclass Coccidia, family Eimeriidae. Species of Caryospora parasitise the intestines of reptiles and various avian hosts (Pellerdy 1974, Cawthorn and Stockdale 1981, Upton and Sundermann 1990, Heidenreich 1997). Only a few species of Caryospora have been described from owls (Strigiformes: Strigidae). Caryospora henrye was described from the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) (Pellerdy 1974) and Caryospora bubonis from the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) (Cawthorn and Stockdale 1981). There are no reports of Caryospora species in the snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca). The snowy owl, a bird of the Arctic tundra which nests in Iceland, northern Scandinavia and the Shetland Islands, has appeared sporadically in France, Italy and Yugoslavia. It is included in Annex I of EC Directive 79/409 and is protected accordingly. Birds, especially Falconiformes, infected with Caryospora, exhibit anorexia and diarrhoea, followed by dehydration, leading to death (Heidenreich 1997). This short communication describes the pathological and parasitological features of Caryospora infection in a sixmonth-old snowy owl. The bird was one of four which had been imported to Greece after an unknown length of time in captivity. Three of the birds developed anorexia and diarrhoea and died a few days later. One of those was presented to the Clinic of Poultry Diseases, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for postmortem examination. No pharmaceutical treatment had been attempted. Radiographic examination, carried out 24 hours postmortem, did not reveal any signs of disturbances in the musculoskeletal system, for example bone fractures or luxations. There was no metallic shot or any other missiles from shotguns identified in soft tissues, and gunshot fractures were absent. No other lesions or signs of disease were seen in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory or cardiovascular systems. On postmortem examination, the bird was found to be thin and the skin was tightly attached to the subcutaneous tissue and the muscles, suggesting dehydration. The liver, spleen and kidneys were normal in size but anaemic. The small intestine was distended with red spots (petechial haemorrhages)