First report of the genus Retortamonas (Sarcomastigophora: Retortamonadidae) in birds

Abstract

In studies carried out on the parasites infecting ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Spain, trophozoites of Retortamonas sp. have been found in the intestinal contents of 28 out of 146 slaughtered ostriches. The species infecting ostriches could not be determined from the morphological data available. However, these findings are important as they constitute the first report of the genus Retortamonas in birds.

Keywords

• Retortamonas
• birds
• Struthio camelus