title: Acute, fatal Sarcocystis calchasi-associated hepatitis in Roller pigeons (Columba livia f. dom.) at Philadelphia Zoo.
abstract: Four Roller pigeons (Columba livia f. dom.) at the Philadelphia Zoo died suddenly. Necropsy examination revealed macroscopic hepatitis. Microscopically, the predominant lesions were in liver, characterized with necrosis and mixed cell inflammatory response. Sarcocystis calchasi-like schizonts and free merozoites were identified in liver. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that schizonts were in hepatocytes. A few schizonts were in spleen. PCR using S. calchasi-specific primers confirmed the diagnosis. Neither lesions nor protozoa were found in brain and muscles. This is the first report of acute visceral S. calchasi-associated sarcocystosis in naturally infected avian hosts.
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Trupkiewicz
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calero-Bernal
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 12, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mowery
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Habecker
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Georoff
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ialeggio
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA. Electronic address: jitender.dubey@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Hepatitis; Roller pigeons (Columba livia); Sarcocystis calchasi; Schizonts