Malaria in a captive emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) from Florida.
Severe anemia and intraerythrocytic stages of an unusual Plasmodium sp. were identified in the blood of a 5-month-old female emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) that had a 4-week history of malaise. Examination of blood taken 3 days prior to the death of the bird revealed a packed cell volume of 10%. Erythrocytes showed a marked regenerative response. Approximately 4% of erythrocytes had intracytoplasmic inclusions, mainly within immature cells, resembling malarial parasites. The schizonts were a combination of the Haemamoeba and Huffia subgenera type with 8-16 merozoites in mature forms. The gametoctyes were elongate. The abnormal morphology was probably a reflection of a new host-parasite relationship. Exoerythrocytic parasite stages were not identified at necropsy. The anemia was tentatively attributed to the Plasmodium infection.
Fox
J H
JH
College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Greiner
E C
EC
Bain
P
P
Jones
R
R
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001717:Birds; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000469:parasitology*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*