title: Endoparasite infections in pet and zoo birds in Italy.
abstract: Faecal samples were individually collected from pet (n = 63) and zoo (n = 83) birds representing 14 orders and 63 species. All the samples were examined by faecal flotation technique. In a subgroup of samples (n = 75), molecular assays were also used to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia duodenalis cysts. Overall, 35.6% of the birds harboured parasites (42.2% of zoo birds and 27% of pet birds), including Strongyles-Capillarids (8.9%), Ascaridia (6.8%), Strongyles (5.5%), G. duodenalis Assemblage A (5.3%), Coccidia (4.1%), Cryptosporidium (4%), Porrocaecum (2.7%), Porrocaecum-Capillarids (2%), and Syngamus-Capillarids (0.7%). The zoonotic G. duodenalis Assemblage A and Cryptosporidium were exclusively found in Psittaciformes, with prevalences of 10.3% and 7.7% within this bird group. Zoo birds were more likely to harbor mixed infections (OR = 14.81) and symptomatic birds to be parasitized (OR = 4.72). Clinicians should be aware of the public health implications posed by zoonotic G. duodenalis Assemblages and Cryptosporidium species in captive birds.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Profilassi e Igiene degli Alimenti, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. rpapini@vet.unipi.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papini
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girivetto
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marangi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancianti
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D007558:Italy; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D057805:Pets / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers