Parental Development of Eimerian Coccidia in Sandhill and Whopping Cranes1

Abstract

In contrast with isosporoid species of coccidia that have established extraintestinal phases of development, the eimeriids, except for a few species, generally have been considered inhabitants of the intestinal tract. Eimeria infection in sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and whooping cranes (G. americana) may result in disseminated visceral coccidiosis. Nodules were observed in the oral cavity of 33% (n = 95) of the G. canadensis at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) in Laurel, MD. Necropsy of six of the afflicted cranes revealed granulomatous nodules in many tissues and organs. Histologic studies disclosed protozoan organisms morphologically resembling schizonts in the granulomas, and endogenous stages of coccidia were present in the intestines of four birds. Fecalysis of three of four sandhill cranes yielded oocysts of E. reichenowi and E. gruis. Only E. reichenowi‐type oocysts were recovered from a dead whooping crane sample. Domestic broiler chicks each intubated with about 1 times 106 pooled sporulated oocysts of E. reichenowi and E. gruis were not infected. Exposure of six incubator‐hatched and hand‐reared sandhill crane chicks to oocysts artificially (two chicks) and naturally (four chicks) resulted in typical infection of intestinal epithelium with invasion of subepithelial tissues extending to the muscular layer and widespread extraintestinal development. Asexual and sexual stages occurred primarily in macrophages in the liver, spleen, heart, and lung. In the lung, oocysts were found in bronchial exudate and epithelial lining cells. Six of ten G. canadensis chicks, one adult G. americana, and three of five G. americana chicks that died naturally at PWRC had disseminated visceral coccidiosis.

Extra-intestinal coccidiosis in the kiwi (Apteryxspp.)

“…The route of migration in other hepatic species of coccidia is unclear; however, both lymphatic and haematogenous spread have been implicated (Smetana, 1933;Horton, 1967;Pakandl, 2009). Asexual and sexual stages of E. reichenowi and E. gruis in cranes occur primarily in macrophages, and it is suggested that these species use this route to penetrate into the blood and/or lymphatic system (Novilla et al, 1981).…”

Hepatic coccidiosis (Eimeriasp) in a wild magpie‐lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)

“…Eimeria stiedae completes its life-cycle in the bile ducts of rabbits (Mykytowycz, 1962). Schizogenous and gametogenous stages of the endogenous life-cycle of intestinal Eimeria spp have been found in the testes, ovary, swim-bladder, liver, kidney and spleen offish (Overstreet, 1981), in the liver, spleen, heart and lung of cranes, Grus canadensis and G. americana (Novilla et al, 1981), and in the livers of pigs (Desser, 1978). Sporozoites of E. maxima were found in the liver of guinea fowl, Numida meleagris, and chickens inoculated with oocysts via the crop (Long and Millard, 1978).…”

Disseminated Visceral Coccidiosis in a Wild White-naped Crane (Grus vipio)

“…Although coccidia of the genus Eimeria are protozoan parasites that usually invade the intestinal tract, a few eimerians of mammals and birds develop in extraintestinal sites (Courtney et al, 1975;Desser, 1978;Forrester et al, 1978;Lima, 1979;Novilla et al, 1981). In birds, Eimeria truncata normally infects the kidneys of geese and ducks (Wobeser and Stockdale, 1983;Oksanen, 1994), and Eimeria reichenowi and Eimeria gruis of cranes have been found in other visceral organs of wild sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and whooping cranes (Grus americana) (Carpenter et al, 1979(Carpenter et al, , 1980.…”

“…In birds, Eimeria truncata normally infects the kidneys of geese and ducks (Wobeser and Stockdale, 1983;Oksanen, 1994), and Eimeria reichenowi and Eimeria gruis of cranes have been found in other visceral organs of wild sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and whooping cranes (Grus americana) (Carpenter et al, 1979(Carpenter et al, , 1980. In cranes infected with eimeriid coccidia, the resulting disease, disseminated visceral coccidiosis (DVC), can be grossly evident as small, white, raised granulomatous nodules on the surface of organs that contain developmental stages of the eimerian coccidia (Novilla et al, 1981;Carpenter et al, 1984).…”