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Sarcocystis Species Lethal for Domestic Pigeons |
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| Authors: | Philipp Olias Achim D. Gruber Andrea Kohls Hafez M. Hafez Alfred Otto Heydorn Heinz Mehlhorn Michael Lierz |
| Affiliation: | Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany (P. Olias, A.D. Gruber, A. Kohls, H.M. Hafez, A.O. Heydorn, M. Lierz);Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany (H. Mehlhorn);1.Current affiliation: Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany. |
| Abstract: | A large number of Sarcocystis spp. infect birds as intermediate hosts, but pigeons are rarely affected. We identified a novel Sarcocystis sp. that causes lethal neurologic disease in domestic pigeons in Germany. Experimental infections indicated transmission by northern goshawks, and sequence analyses indicated transnational distribution. Worldwide spread is possible. |
| Keywords: | Apicomplexa protozoa polyuria depression torticollis encephalitis ribosomal RNA 18S 28S parasites dispatch |