Haemoproteus in the houbara (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) and the rufous-crested bustard (Eupodotis ruficrista) in the United Arab Emirates.
A routine microscopic examination of blood smears from 52 houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenit) recently imported into the United Arab Emirates revealed that 32 (61.5%) birds were infected with Haemoproteus tendeiroi and H. telfordi. Haemoproteus tendeiroi was found alone in most of the infected birds, whereas a combination of H. telfordi and H. tendeiroi was found together in two birds, and only one bird was infected with H. telfordi alone. In eight recently imported rufous-crested bustards (Eupodotis ruficrista), 50% were found to be infected with haemoparasites. Four birds were infected with H. telfordi and one of these was also infected with H. tendeiroi. The schizonts for the two Haemoproteus species described in this study may have had predilection for skeletal muscle as these were not detected in several other tissue samples examined from known infected birds.
Howlett
J C
JC
Veterinary Science Department, National Avian Research Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Samour
J H
JH
Bailey
T A
TA
Naldo
J
J
D'aloia
M A
MA