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Necrotizing meningoencephalitis caused by Sarcocystis falcatula in bare-faced ibis (Phimosus infuscatus)

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Abstract

The infection by S. falcatula is commonly associated with respiratory disease in captive psittacine birds, with a few case reports of this protozoan causing encephalitis in wild birds. We describe the clinical, pathological, and molecular aspects of an infection by S. falcatula in a bare-faced ibis (Phimosus infuscatus). Clinically, wing paralysis and mild motor incoordination were observed. At necropsy, the telencephalic cortex showed multifocal to coalescing yellowish soft areas. Histologically, multifocal to coalescent nonsuppurative necrotizing meningoencephalitis of telencephalic cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem was observed. Necrotic areas showed multiple protozoan organism characteristics of Sarcocystis sp. schizonts in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells or lying free in the neuropil. Partial genetic sequences of the gene encoding cytochrome b (CYTB), the gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (RPOB) and the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) from Sarcocystis sp. schizonts revealed that the parasite had ITS-1 sequences that were 100% identical to the homologous alleles from Sarcocystis sp. shed by Didelphis albiventris in Brazil. RPOB and CYTB sequences were 100% identical to homologous of S. falcatula available in Genbank. Thus, this is the first report of necrotizing meningoencephalitis caused by S. falcatula in bare-faced ibis (P. infuscatus).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil

    Guilherme Konradt, Matheus Viezzer Bianchi, Ronaldo Viana Leite-Filho, Bruna Zafalon da Silva, Saulo Petinatti Pavarini & David Driemeier

  2. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Rodrigo Martins Soares

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  1. Guilherme Konradt
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  2. Matheus Viezzer Bianchi
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  3. Ronaldo Viana Leite-Filho
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  4. Bruna Zafalon da Silva
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  5. Rodrigo Martins Soares
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  6. Saulo Petinatti Pavarini
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  7. David Driemeier
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Correspondence to Guilherme Konradt.

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Konradt, G., Bianchi, M.V., Leite-Filho, R.V. et al. Necrotizing meningoencephalitis caused by Sarcocystis falcatula in bare-faced ibis (Phimosus infuscatus). Parasitol Res 116, 809–812 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5341-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5341-6

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