Systemic Isosporiasis (Atoxoplasmosis) in Passerine Birds at the Zoological Society of London, London Zoo

Flach, Edmund; Dodhia, Hasita S; Guthrie, Amanda; Blake, Damer P.

doi:10.1638/2021-0087

Cited by 3 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This is consistent with the results of Schrenzel et al [ 10 ], who highlighted the spleen, liver, heart, and lung as frequently affected organs in systemic infections. In numerous other studies, merozoites were detected in the liver or spleen as well [ 13 , 20 , 63 , 64 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“… Schematic illustration of the life cycle of Isospora parasites in Passeriformes based on descriptions in [ 13 , 17 , 18 ]. The life cycle of Isospora in avian hosts consists of an endogenous and exogenous part whereby transmission occurs by the ingestion of infectious sporulated oocysts (tetrasporozoic diplosporocystic) from the environment via the fecal–oral route.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Commonly affected organs are the spleen, liver, heart, and lung [ 10 , 12 ]. Isospora species in passerine birds encompass organisms with short intestinal life cycles (enteric isosporosis) and others with extended life cycles, including extraintestinal merogony (systemic isosporosis) [ 12 , 13 ]. Historically, there were suggestions that intestinal and extraintestinal forms represent distinct parasites [ 14 ]; however, molecular studies of these parasites from various tissues revealed that these forms belong to the same parasite species [ 12 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditionally, Isospora parasites are identified from feces rather than blood, and currently known species are distinguished based on their oocyst morphology. Only a few studies have investigated Isospora parasites from birds using molecular techniques [ 13 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the vector’s blood meal, sporozoites are ingested to complete the life cycle, whereby no further development takes place in the vector serving as a paratenic host [ 35 ]. Research on avian Lankesterella parasites is a relatively young field [ 6 , 13 , 40 ]. It is likely that the Lankesterella life cycle is similar to the one described for amphibians, with merogony, gametogony, and sporogony of Lankesterella parasites taking place entirely within the vertebrate host, leading to the development of sporozoites, which infect thrombocytes and leucocytes of birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isospora and Lankesterella Parasites (Eimeriidae, Apicomplexa) of Passeriform Birds in Europe: Infection Rates, Phylogeny, and Pathogenicity

Keckeisen,

Šujanová,

Himmel

et al. 2024

Pathogens

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Wild birds are common hosts to numerous intracellular parasites such as single-celled eukaryotes of the family Eimeriidae (order Eucoccidiorida, phylum Apicomplexa). We investigated the infection rates, phylogeny, and pathogenicity of Isospora and Lankesterella parasites in wild and captive passerine birds. Blood and tissue samples of 815 wild and 15 deceased captive birds from Europe were tested using polymerase chain reaction and partial sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase I and the nuclear 18S rRNA gene. The infection rate for Lankesterella in wild birds was 10.7% compared to 5.8% for Isospora. Chromogenic in situ hybridization with probes targeting the parasites’ 18S rRNA was employed to identify the parasites’ presence in multiple organs, and hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed to visualize the parasite stages and assess associated lesions. Isospora parasites were mainly identified in the intestine, spleen, and liver. Extraintestinal tissue stages of Isospora were accompanied by predominantly lymphohistiocytic inflammation of varying severity. Lankesterella was most frequently detected in the spleen, lung, and brain; however, infected birds presented only a low parasite burden without associated pathological changes. These findings contribute to our understanding of Isospora and Lankesterella parasites in wild birds.

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