title: Necrotizing meningoencephalitis caused by Sarcocystis falcatula in bare-faced ibis (Phimosus infuscatus).
abstract: The infection by S. falcatula is commonly associated with respiratory disease in captive psittacine birds, with a few case reports of this protozoan causing encephalitis in wild birds. We describe the clinical, pathological, and molecular aspects of an infection by S. falcatula in a bare-faced ibis (Phimosus infuscatus). Clinically, wing paralysis and mild motor incoordination were observed. At necropsy, the telencephalic cortex showed multifocal to coalescing yellowish soft areas. Histologically, multifocal to coalescent nonsuppurative necrotizing meningoencephalitis of telencephalic cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem was observed. Necrotic areas showed multiple protozoan organism characteristics of Sarcocystis sp. schizonts in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells or lying free in the neuropil. Partial genetic sequences of the gene encoding cytochrome b (CYTB), the gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (RPOB) and the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) from Sarcocystis sp. schizonts revealed that the parasite had ITS-1 sequences that were 100% identical to the homologous alleles from Sarcocystis sp. shed by Didelphis albiventris in Brazil. RPOB and CYTB sequences were 100% identical to homologous of S. falcatula available in Genbank. Thus, this is the first report of necrotizing meningoencephalitis caused by S. falcatula in bare-faced ibis (P. infuscatus).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil. guikonradt@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Konradt
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus Viezzer
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ronaldo Viana
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Leite-Filho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Zafalon
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Martins
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Saulo Petinatti
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pavarini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Prédio 42505, Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Driemeier
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D001938:Brazil; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017441:Necrobiotic Disorders; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b
keywords: Bare-faced ibis; Phimosus infuscatus; Polymerase chain reaction; Protozoal encephalitis; Sarcocystis falcatula