title: Extension of the Avian Host Range of Collyriclosis in Europe.
abstract: We describe cases of collyriclosis in apodiform and passeriform birds in Portugal, Switzerland, and Germany. We extend the host range of Collyriculm faba to include apodiform birds ( Apus apus , Apus melba , and Apus pallidus ) and the passerine Sitta europaea (Eurasian Nuthatch). Infections varied in severity from an incidental finding to severe debilitation and death. The infection route remains unclear with the apparent absence from Germany, Portugal, and Switzerland of the first intermediate host of C. faba, the aquatic gastropod Bythinella austriaca, implying that other organisms might be involved in the parasite's life cycle. Furthermore, the detection of C. faba cysts in very young passerine birds may indicate an infection during the nestling stage and a rapid development of parasite-containing subcutaneous cysts. This series of cases highlights an increased geographic range into Portugal and the potential debilitating nature of a parasite of migratory birds in Europe. However, given the rarity of cases, collyriclosis does not seem to present an important threat to migratory species preservation.
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stamatios A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tahas
authors.affiliation: 2 Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diakou
authors.affiliation: 3 Dressel Small Animal Practice, Bahnhofstrasse 3, 79585 Steinen, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dressel
authors.affiliation: 4 Wuppertal Zoo, Hubertusallee 30, 42117 Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.affiliation: 5 Wildlife Rehabilitation and Investigation Center - RIAS, Apartado 1009, 8700-282 Olhão, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fábia M Pinto
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: 5 Wildlife Rehabilitation and Investigation Center - RIAS, Apartado 1009, 8700-282 Olhão, Portugal.
authors.forename: María V Mena
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Casero
authors.affiliation: 6 Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Medical Parasitology Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon, Rua de Jungueira 100, 1249-008 Lisbon, Portugal.|7 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Lusofona of Humanities and Technologies, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: 8 Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grest
authors.affiliation: 9 Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: 10 Comenius Museum, Moravian Ornithological Station, Horní nám. 1, 75152 Pr̆erov, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiljí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sitko
authors.affiliation: 11 Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tr̆. 1, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Literák
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases; D001717:Birds; D005060:Europe; D005858:Germany; D058507:Host Specificity; D011174:Portugal; D013557:Switzerland; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Apus apus; Apus melba; Apus pallidus; Collyriclum faba; Passer domesticus; Phoenicurus ochruros; Sitta europaea; pericloacal cysts