title: Hematozoa and a new haemoproteid species from Cathartidae (New World vulture) in South Carolina.
abstract: A survey of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) in South Carolina revealed the presence of a novel haemoproteid. Haemoproteus catharti n. sp. is described from the slides developed from the blood of this vulture. The new species is a thick, halteridial form with complete margins, and is considered distinct from the other recognized haemoproteids from the diurnal raptors in shape, pigment number, parasite outline, and host-family specificity. While reviewing blood films, a series of unusual immature schizonts of Plasmodium sp. were also observed, and these are illustrated, along with another distinct haemoproteid from old slides of poor quality produced from turkey vulture blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA. greinere@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Ellis C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fedynich
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Travis L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: DeVault
authors.forename: Olin E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D013022:South Carolina