Fatal Sarcocystis falcatula Infection in Three Penguins

Shannon G. M. Kirejczyk; Rachel E. Burns; Michael W. Hyatt; Michael J. Yabsley; Michael J. Yabsley; Julia M. Ter Beest; Zoltan S. Gyimesi; Robert J. Ossiboff; Amelia Waltman; Tracie A. Seimon; Rita McManamon; Rita McManamon

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00340

Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Oct 2019)

Fatal Sarcocystis falcatula Infection in Three Penguins

Shannon G. M. Kirejczyk,
Rachel E. Burns,
Michael W. Hyatt,
Michael J. Yabsley,
Michael J. Yabsley,
Julia M. Ter Beest,
Zoltan S. Gyimesi,
Robert J. Ossiboff,
Amelia Waltman,
Tracie A. Seimon,
Rita McManamon,
Rita McManamon

Affiliations

Shannon G. M. Kirejczyk: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Rachel E. Burns: Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
Michael W. Hyatt: Adventure Aquarium, Camden, NJ, United States
Michael J. Yabsley: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Michael J. Yabsley: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Julia M. Ter Beest: Louisville Zoological Garden, Louisville, KY, United States
Zoltan S. Gyimesi: Louisville Zoological Garden, Louisville, KY, United States
Robert J. Ossiboff: The Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
Amelia Waltman: The Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
Tracie A. Seimon: The Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, United States
Rita McManamon: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
Rita McManamon: Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00340
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6

Abstract

Read online

Sarcocystis falcatula is a well-known cause of fatal pneumonia in some birds, particularly Old World psittacines. Here we describe fatal sarcosystosis due to S. falcatula in 3 penguins (Family Spheniscidae) under managed care, including one African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), and two Southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome). Randomly distributed foci of necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltrates, edema, and variable numbers of round to elongated protozoal schizonts were observed in sections of lung. Protozoal organisms exhibited strong immunoreactivity for Sarcocystis sp. antigen by immunohistochemistry. Apicomplexan and Sarcocystis genus-specific PCR assays and sequence analysis confirmed S. falcatula as the etiologic agent. These cases of fatal pneumonia attributed to S. falcatula expand the list of aberrant intermediate avian hosts, with particular implications for penguins.

Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science

ISSN: 2297-1769 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords