The first clinical cases of <i>Haemoproteus</i> infection in a snowy owl (<i>Bubo scandiacus</i>) and a goshawk (<i>Accipiter gentilis</i>) at a zoo in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

This study reports two clinical cases of avian haemosporidian infection caused by a Haemoproteus sp., involving a snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) and a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), at a zoo. The snowy owl died after presenting with anorexia, depression and lethargy. A blood smear with Wright’s staining confirmed Haemoproteus infection. Necropsy of the snowy owl revealed hypertrophy of the internal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, kidney and adrenal glands. The goshawk showed anorexia, depression and a lowered head position, and was diagnosed with a Haemoproteus infection based on a blood smear. The goshawk was completely cured by treatment with a combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride. Both cases showed decreased erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit values on complete blood count.

Molecular prevalence and phylogenetic relationship of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium parasites of owls in Thailand: Data from a rehabilitation centre

“…are generally considered more pathogenic, Haemoproteus spp. infections can also be occasionally lethal, especially when non-adapted hosts are exposed to these parasites (Baker et al, 2018; Kelly et al, 2018; Lee et al, 2018; Remple, 2004; Valkiūnas and Iezhova, 2017). With regards specifically to owls, Evans and Otter (1998) reported the case of a snowy owl ( Bubo scandiacus ) that died due to a co-infection by Haemoproteus noctuae and Leucocytozoon danilewskyi .…”

Penguins are competent hosts of Haemoproteus parasites: the first detection of gametocytes, with molecular characterization of Haemoproteus larae

“…Treatments using antimalarial drugs such as primaquine and atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride have also been shown to be effective in reducing the parasitemia intensity of Haemoproteus spp. [22,52]. Such effects may also influence haemoproteid parasitemia in penguins in this study, although details regarding the medication protocols were not available for the birds examined.…”

“…Contrary to Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon parasites, it remains unclear if haemoproteids complete development and produce infective stages (gametocytes) or whether these infections are abortive at sporozoite or tissue stages in penguins, and the resulting infections are dead ends for parasite transmission. In other words, it remains unclear if penguins are competent hosts for Haemoproteus parasites, which are known to cause severe disease in non-adapted avian hosts [22,23]. Unless gametocytes are present in the bloodstream, arthropod vectors are not capable of transmitting the parasite to another host.…”

“…Unless gametocytes are present in the bloodstream, arthropod vectors are not capable of transmitting the parasite to another host. Haemoproteus species have generally been considered relatively harmless in the past [24], but cases of lethal haemoproteosis have been reported in captive birds [22,23,25,26] and haemoproteosis may possibly be lethal to penguins as well.…”

First records of prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia in snipe species (genus Gallinago) of Japan

“…This is the case with the native honeycreepers of Hawai'i which were naïve to introduced avian malaria, leading to population decline and even the extinction of many native bird species ( Atkinson et al, 2013 ; Atkinson and Lapointe, 2009 ; LaPointe et al, 2012 ; Van Riper et al, 1986 ). Captive birds such as those in zoos and aviaries are also at high risk, as they may encounter haemosporidian parasites that they would not have encountered in their original distribution ( Inumaru et al, 2021 ; Lee et al, 2018 ; Olias et al, 2011 ; Scott, 1927 ; Vanstreels et al, 2016 ). Apart from those lethal effects, some studies have also reported negative associations between haemosporidian infection and host status, including both morphological and physiological effects.…”