Browsing by Subject "Oocyst"

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    Coccidian Prevalence and Intensity in Free-Ranging and Rehabilitating Wild Raptors
    (2019-01-01) Crespo-Gines, R.; Lopez, D. S.; Berriatua, E.; Blanco, G.; Candela, M. G.; Perez-Garcia, J. M.; Sanidad Animal; Dpto. Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n., 23071 Jaén, Spain.; Dpto. de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, c/. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.; Área de Ecología, Dpto. de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Edificio Torreblanca, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain; Ciencia Animal, ETSEA, Universidad de Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
    Coccidians infect the intestines and other organs in vertebrates, causing pathogenicity ranging from symptomatic infections to death. However, knowledge about coccidian infections is lacking for most free-living raptor species. Gathering basic information on coccidian infection would allow a better understanding of the basic ecology of raptors and would improve conservation actions. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and parasitic loads of coccidians in several free-ranging and rehabilitating wild raptor species in recovery centres in Spain and Belgium from 2015 to 2017. Faecal samples from 129 individuals of 17 different raptor species were collected. Coccidian oocysts were found in nine species. Significant differences were found in the prevalence of coccidians between the two countries, with higher rates in Belgium (45.0%) than in Spain (20.2%), as well as between age categories, with nestlings and juveniles showing a higher prevalence (30.5%) than adults (11.4%). Three different coccidian genera were identified. Caryospora spp. and Eimeria spp. were found in diurnal raptors and owls with medium/high loads (median ranging from 75-91344 ooc/g), while Isospora spp. was found only in Griffon Gyps fulvus and Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus at low infection intensities (62-170 ooc/g). We present the first case of Isospora spp. in European vultures, although it is unclear if this is a true intestinal parasitisation or a pseudo-parasitisation with oocysts from livestock on which the vultures fed. Despite the limited sample size in our study, our results contribute to filling a gap in the knowledge of coccidian infections in wild birds.
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    Records of Eimeria spp. and their patterns of excretion in captive North African Gazelles
    (Helminthological Society of Washington, 2001) Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Ortiz, Juana; Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Espeso, Gerardo; Abaigar, Teresa; Cano, Mar; Sanidad Animal
    The species of Eimeria occurring in 3 species of captive gazelles (Gazella dama mhorr, Gazella cuvieri, and Gazella dorcas neglecta) were identified. This is the first report of Eimeria pallida, Eimeria elegans, and Eimeria gazella in these hosts and also the first report of E. elegans and E. gazella in Spain. Feces were collected from each of 9 young gazelles for periods of 3-7 mo to determine their oocyst shedding profile. Most oocysts appeared at 20-25 d, peaked, and decreased to undetectable levels between 40 and 115 d. Eimeria gazella delayed its excretion, which continued at low levels throughout the observation stage. No clinical signs of infection were observed in the gazelles during the study.
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    Serologic response of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) after oral inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts
    (Elsevier, 2004-05) Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Ortiz, Juana; Bernabé, Antonio; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Alonso, Francisco D.; Sanidad Animal
    Thirty 5-month-old red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) reared in battery were divided into five groups: 4 birds in group A, 14 birds in group B, 4 birds in group C, 4 birds in group D and 4 birds in group E, and were inoculated orally with 10, 50, 102, 103 and 104 oocysts of the OV-51/95 strain of Toxoplasma gondii, respectively. During the experiment, blood samples from all birds were drawn every 3–7 days and at necropsy. Serologic response was measured by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the latex agglutination test (LAT). One bird from each group was killed at 44, 58, 65 and 72 days after inoculation (DAI). From 72 DAI to the end of the experiment, surviving partridges from group B were killed at weekly intervals. The last partridges were sacrified 100 DAI. MAT was the most sensitive and specific test for detecting T. gondii antibodies in the birds. First positive titers were detected by MAT in all sera on 7 DAI, but titers by LAT did not appear until 13 DAI. Antibody titers detected by MAT on 7 DAI were higher in the partridges with the largest inocula (103 or 104 oocysts) than those inoculated with 10, 50 or 102 oocysts. All surviving birds developed a serologic response to T. gondii, with maximum titers of 512–32 768 in the MAT on 13–17 DAI, and positive titers persisted at least until 100 DAI. To the contrary, LAT reveals only very low antibody titers even in partridges inoculated with the highest dose of T. gondii.