Renal trematode infection due to Paratanaisia bragai in zoo housed Columbiformes and a red bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra)

Abstract

Graphical abstractHighlights► First reported cases of renal trematodosis in endangered red bird-of-paradise and Socorro doves. ► Paratanasia bragai identified morphologically and molecularly in several previously unreported columbiformes. ► New diagnostics developed from this work will be of direct benefit to the conservation of avian species.

Histopathological changes in the kidneys of vertebrate hosts infected naturally and experimentally withParatanaisia bragai (Trematoda, Digenea)

“…Based on the microscopic examination of kidney tissue sections, our observation of dilation of the collecting tubules of the medullar region due to the presence of P. bragai is in line with the findings of Santos (1934), Barretto & Mies Filho (1942), Kumar et al (2009) and Unwin et al (2013), who analyzed Paradisaea rubra Daudin, 1800 (Passeriformes) and Z. graysoni (Columbiformes).…”

“…The occurrence of inflammation near the collecting tubules as a result of infection with P. bragai observed in this study agrees with the findings of Menezes et al (2001), who noted discrete inflammation with the presence of heterophils around the tubules in N. meleagris parasitized by P. bragai, and with those of Silva et al (2005), who observed chronic interstitial nephritis, mainly heterophilic in nature. Unwin et al (2013) also observed interstitial nephritis, while Gomes et al (2005) found an inflammatory reaction with granulocytes, and Brener et al (2006) observed a discrete heterophilic infiltrate between mononucleated cells.…”

“…Likewise, Unwin et al (2013) reported the death of Zenaida graysoni Lawrence, 1871 and suggested this was caused by infection with P. bragai, because the birds exhibited severe renal lesions. Kumar et al (2009) found occasional hemorrhaging in the kidneys of C. livia parasitized by P. bragai.…”

Morpho-pathological description of first record of fatal concurrent intestinal and renal parasitism in Columba livia domestica in India

“…bragai had previously been reported to parasitize the kidneys of domestic pigeons (Borah et al, 2009), cattle egret (Abdo and Sultan, 2013), guinea fowl (Menezes et al, 2001), whistling ducks (Fedynich et al, 1996), red bird of paradise (Unwin et al, 2013), ruddy ground dove (Pinto et al, 2004), turkey (Brener et al, 2006) and ring-necked pheasant (Gomes et al, 2005) and the parasite had been incriminated as a cause of death of the heavily infected birds (Arnizaut et al, 1992). The detailed examination revealed that tubular and glomerular damage was primarily due to the parasites as well as by the invading eggs.…”

“…The trematodes of various genera of the families Eucotylidae and Renicolidae infect the kidneys of the birds and prove detrimental by affecting renal pelvis and proximal ureters (Kanev et al, 2002). Paratanaisia bragai, member of the family Eucotylidae had been found involved in infections of kidneys of various bird species, which had proved fatal (Unwin et al, 2013). The prime objectives of present study were morphological identification of the parasites retrieved from the intestines of the pigeons at necropsy and histopathological evaluation of extent of damage caused by them in different organs.…”