Identification of a Novel Renal Coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Great-Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), USA

Abstract

We diagnosed renal coccidiosis in two of five Great-horned Owls ( Bubo virginianus ) examined in eastern Tennessee, US, 2007-13. Histopathologic examination of the kidneys revealed multifocal mild-to-moderate dilation and epithelial hyperplasia of collecting ducts. Renal collecting duct epithelial cells contained intracytoplasmic microgametocytes, macrogametocytes, and sporulating and sporulated oocysts. Renal coccidiosis in affected birds did not result in significant inflammation. Sequence analysis of the amplified partial 18S short subunit ribosomal RNA coding region from examination of formalin fixed tissue by using PCR disclosed a 93% identity to Eimeria reichenowi in GenBank, suggesting a novel Eimeria sp.

Primer reporte de Coccidiosis renal fatal en un Biguá (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) en coinfección con nematodes de Argentina

“…Estos reportes de Eiméridos en localizaciones extraintestinales se relacionan principalmente con Anseriformes y otros hospedadores aviares silvestres de entornos acuáticos (8,9,10,11,12,13) con solo algunas excepciones. (14) Más aún, debido a que la mayoría de reportes de estas parasitosis en avifauna silvestre se basan en especímenes encontrados muertos, son aún más escasos los detalles sobre la signología durante el curso del cuadro clínico.…”

Investigation of a Mass Stranding Event Reveals a Novel Pattern of Cascading Comorbidities in Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis)

“…Eimeria spp.–associated renal coccidiosis has been reported from many avian genera (Nation and Wobeser 1977; Tuggle and Crites 1984; Leighton and Gajadhar 1986; Gajadhar and Leighton 1988; Yabsley et al 2002). Pathogenicity varies from incidental infection to mass mortality due to parasite-associated nephropathy, characterized by epithelial hyperplasia, necrosis, sloughing, and tubular dilation (Tuggle and Crites 1984; Leighton and Gajadhar 1986; Yabsley et al 2002; Morgan et al 2013; Jankovsky et al 2017). Eimeria spp.…”