title: Plasmodium spp. In a captive raptor collection of a Safaripark in northwest Italy.
abstract: Blood parasites infect all vertebrates (Clayton and Moore 1997). Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp., Plasmodiidae) are cosmopolitan in their distribution and are responsible for severe diseases in domestic and wild birds.In September 2009, nine raptorial birds that either arrived recently or were maintained as permanent residents at the Safaripark Pombia (northwest Italy) showed loss of stamina, developing listlessness, anorexia and regurgitation. Within one month three animals died and were necropsied.Following the diagnosis of Plasmodium infection all other raptorial birds were treated: clinical improvement was observed in all birds, and blood smears made after one month resulted negative for parasites.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italia. Electronic address: frineeleonora.scaglione@unito.it.
authors: F E
authors: FE
authors: Scaglione
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italia.
authors: F T
authors: FT
authors: Cannizzo
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italia.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Chiappino
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sereno
authors: Practicing Veterinarian, Safaripark Pombia, SS 32 Km 23,4, 28050 Pombia (NO), Italia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ripepi
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via Gaetano Salvemini, 1, 06126 Perugia, Italia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Salamida
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via Gaetano Salvemini, 1, 06126 Perugia, Italia.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Manuali
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italia.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Bollo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046093:Falconiformes; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008289:Malaria, Avian / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000469:parasitology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020305:Strigiformes
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine
keywords: Bird; Blood parasites; Captive raptor; Malaria; Plasmodium spp.; Zoo