MALARIA IN A CAPTIVELY-PRODUCED F₁ GYRFALCON AND IN TWO F₁ PEREGRINE FALCONS

Abstract

One Falco rusticolus and two of 24 Falco peregrinus were positive for Plasmodium relictum. Sixteen percent of the erythrocytes (RBC) of the gyrfalcon were parasitized. Following treatment with chloroquine the parasite burden was dramatically reduced (to less than 0.01%). Infection in peregrine falcons was low (0.01-0.4% RBCs were parasitized). This is the second report of Plasmodium in the gyrfalcon and the first report in the peregrine falcon.

Haemosporidian infection in captive masked bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi), an endangered subspecies of the northern bobwhite quail

“…Plasmodium parasites have been described as causing disease and mortality in birds of prey (Greiner et al, 1981, Krone et al 2001, 2008) and have been frequently recorded in many zoos of North America, Europe, and Asia (Cranfield et al, 1990, Valkiūnas, 2005, Ferrell et al 2007, Grim et al 2008). Specifically, P. relictum is considered the most common pathogenic parasite associated with clinical disease in falcons, gyrfalcons, kestrels, and other Falconiformes and Strigiformes (Kingston et al, 1976, Remple, 2004). This finding highlights the importance of active surveillance of zoo collections in order to detect potentially harmful parasites that could start circulating in the area and affect susceptible birds.…”

Hematologia, pesquisa de hemoparasitos e mensuração da atividade de colinesterases plasmáticas em Falconiformes e Strigiformes do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

“…Stabler e Holt (1965) relataram uma taxa de infecção por hemosporídeos de 48% em Falconiformes (90 de 186 estudados) e de 69% em Strigiformes (25 de 36 avaliados), dessa forma também encontrando maior ocorrência nas corujas. Kingston et al (1976) (PHALEN et al, 1995). Hunter, Rohner e Currie (1997) descreveram casos de infecção por Leucocytozoon em corujas que foram a óbito no Canadá devido à grande infecção por esse parasito e infestação por seu transmissor.…”