Cryptosporidium meleagridis in an Indian ring-necked parrot (Psittacula krameri).
OBJECTIVE
To perform a morphological and genetic characterisation of a Cryptosporidium infection in an Indian ring-necked parrot (Psittacula krameri) and to compare this with C meleagridis from a turkey.


METHODS
Tissue and intestinal sections from an Indian ring-necked parrot were examined microscopically for Cryptosporidium. The organism was also purified from the crop and intestine, the DNA extracted and a portion of the 18S rDNA gene amplified, sequenced and compared with sequence and biological information obtained for C meleagridis from a turkey as well as sequence information for other species of Cryptosporidium.


RESULTS
Morphological examination of tissue sections from an Indian ring-necked parrot revealed large numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts attached to the apical border of enterocytes lining the intestinal tract. Purified Cryptosporidium oocysts measured about 5.1 x 4.5 microns, which conformed morphologically to C meleagridis. The sequence obtained from this isolate was identical to sequence information obtained from a C meleagridis isolate from a turkey.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryptosporidium meleagridis was detected in an Indian ring-necked parrot using morphological and molecular methods. This is the first time that this species of Cryptosporidium has been reported in a non-galliform host and extends the known host range of C meleagridis.
Morgan
U M
UM
World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, Western Australia.
Xiao
L
L
Limor
J
J
Gelis
S
S
Raidal
S R
SR
Fayer
R
R
Lal
A
A
Elliot
A
A
Thompson
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010311:Parrots / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D014422:Turkeys / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S