Clinical and Pathological Aspects of Systemic Isospora Infection in Blue-crowned Laughing Thrushes (Garrulax courtoisi) at Jersey Zoo.

Based on a review of species mortalities, systemic Isospora species was identified as the primary cause of death in 22% (19 of 87) of blue-crowned laughing thrushes (BCLTs; Garrulax courtoisi) at the Jersey Zoo between 1997 and 2016. Fifty-eight percent of the affected birds were between 1 and 2 years old, and in 89% of cases, death occurred between August and December. Abnormal clinical findings in BCLTs with Isospora species infections included hepatomegaly and pectoral muscle myositis in 79% of the cases. The results of diagnostic blood testing in 90% of infected BCLTs 30 days before death were consistent with a severe leukocytosis with greater than 20% of mononuclear cells infected by merozoites. The most common lesions identified during gross necropsy examination were splenomegaly (100%), hepatomegaly (95%), and multifocal, raised, white foci in pectoral (84%) and heart (79%) muscle. Lymphohistiocytic inflammation was identified in the liver, heart, spleen, lung, striated muscle, and kidney tissue of birds with positive results for Isospora species. Merozoites were often observed in spleen, liver, pectoral muscle, and hearts of infected BCLTs. Polymerase chain reaction diagnostic testing that targeted the cytochrome c oxidase subunit, followed by Sanger sequencing, was used to confirm Isospora species in all 14 birds tested. Of samples tested, the highest genetic correlation was with GenBank accession number KT203397 (Isospora species JRB-2016 mitochondrion).

Treatment of atoxoplasmosis in the Blue-crowned Laughing Thrush (Dryonastes courtoisi).

Passerines are frequently parasitized by coccidia, especially species of the genus Isospora, with extra-intestinal stages that can be highly pathogenic causing serious clinical damage in young birds. Whilst there is still no effective treatment to completely clear isosporoid coccidia with extra-intestinal stages from a host species, our results showed that prolonged treatment with toltrazuril (BAYER AG, Leverkusen, Germany) can decrease the oocysts in faeces and thus reduce the extra-intestinal phase of the infection. The toltrazuril treatment is therefore probably indirectly effective against the systemic form of atoxoplasmosis.

Description of the puparium of Protocalliphora nourtevai (Insecta: Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Avian blowflies are obligatory blood-sucking parasite larvae that typically pupariate in bird nests. The empty puparia are diagnostically important, as they are usually the only evidence for the presence of these parasites in nests. Compared to the Nearctic region, very little is known about puparia of Palearctic species. Here, we provide the first description of puparia of Protocalliphora nourtevai from nests of 2 bird species, namely, Phoenicurus phoenicurus and Phoenicurus ochruros from Finland. Puparia possessed irregular pronounced folds in the hyper-, meso-, and hypostigmatal region, and no spines were present in the entire stigmatal area. There are just 2 distinct spine bands on the ventral surface of the puparia. The medial band is absent. There are no plaques or spines in the medial region.