The first report of haematozoa: Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus infection in Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) of Kaleybar, East Azerbaijan province

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran.

3 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz-Iran.

4 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

Abstract

Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is one of the largest owls in Iran, which lives in most of the mountainous and forested areas of Iran. In order to identify blood parasites in wild birds native to East Azerbaijan province, a blood sample was collected from the wing (brachial) vein of an apparently healthy Eurasian Bubo bubo kept at the East Azarbaijan Environment Organization. Several blood smears were taken from the blood sample and transferred to the parasitology laboratory. The blood smears were stained with Giemsa 5% and then examined under a light microscope at 1000x magnification. The bird erythrocytes infected with Haemoproteus sp. as well as Leucocytozoon sp. Studies of blood parasites in birds of prey, such as the Eurasian owl, are of great importance due to the endangered status of this species, the potential pathogenicity of these parasites, and the lack of enough information about these parasites available in Iran. It is the first report of a haemosporidian blood parasite infection in an eagle owl in northwest Iran. 

Keywords

References

1.Baker, K. C., C. L. Rettenmund, S. J. Sander, A. E. Rivas, K. C. Green, L. Mangus and E. Bronson. 2018. Clinical Effect of Hemoparasite infection in Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 49(1): 143-152.
2.deMent, S. H., T. Graczyk and R. S. deMent. 2002. Blood Parasites of Wintering Birds of Prey in South Carolina. The Chat 66(3): 79-84.
3.Friend, M. and J. C. Franson. 2001. Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases, General Field Procedures and Diseases of Birds. First Edition. pp: 193-195. USGS Publishing. Washington, D.C.
4.Ishak, H. D., J. P. Dumbacher, N. L. Anderson, J. S. Keane, G. Valkiunas and S. M. Haig. 2008. Blood Parasites in Owls with Conservation Implications for The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis). Public Library of Science One 3(5): 1-10.
5.Lee, S., D. Kwak and K. Kim. 2018. The first clinical cases of Haemoproteus infection in a snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) and a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) at a zoo in the Republic of Korea. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 80(8): 1255–1258 
6.Leppert, L. L., A. M. Duffy, S. Stock, M. D. Oleyar and G. S. Raltenecker. 2008. Survey of Blood Parasites in Two Forest Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls and Flammulated Owls, Of Western North America, Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(2): 475-479.
7.Mansouri, J. 2013. A guide to the birds of Iran. 2th Edition. pp: 278.  Farzaneh Book Publication. Tehran. (In Farsi)
8.Martinsen E. S., B. J. Blumberg, R. J. Eisen and J. J. Schall. 2008. Avian Hemosporidian Parasites from Northern California Oak Woodland and Chaparral Habitats. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(2): 260-268.
9.Merino, S., J. Potti and J. A. Fargallo. 1997. Blood Parasites of Passerine Birds from Central of Spain. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 33(3): 638-341.
10.MollazadehZonoozi, A., A. Nasouri, A. Reza Shojaei and R. A. Samani. 2008. Survey of carnivorous bird’s infection of protozoa and ectoparasites in the zoo of Tehran city. 15th Iranian Veterinary Congress. Tehran. pp: 135. (In Farsi)
11.Murata, K., R. Nil, S. Yui, E. Sasaki, S. Ishikawa and Y. Sato. 2008. Avian Haemosporidian Parasites Infection in Wild Birds Inhabiting Minami-Daito Island of Northwest Pacific, Japan. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 70(5): 501-503.
12.Quilifeldt, P., J. Martinez, J.  Hennicke, K. Ludynia, A. Gladbach and J. F. Masello. 2010. Hemosporidian Blood Parasites in Seabirds-a comparative genetic study of species from Antarctic to tropical Habitats, Die Naturwissenschaften 97:809-817.
13.Razmi, G. R. and A. Andalibian. 2006. Investigation of contamination (Haemoproteus columbae) in pigeons in Mashhad and Shirvan. Veterinary Researches & Biological Products 71: 95-96. (In Farsi)
14.Savage, A. F., V. Robert, S. M. Goodman, V. Raharimanga, M. G. Raherilalo and A. Andrianarimisa. 2009. Blood Parasites in Birds from Madagascar. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 45(4): 907-920.
15.Scheuerlein, A. and R. E. Ricklefs. 2004. Prevalence of Blood Parasites in European Passeriformes Birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences B 271: 1363-1370.
16.Scott, D. A., H. Moravvej Hamedani, and A. Adhami Mirhosseini. 1983. The Birds of Iran, 2th Edition. pp. 198. Department of Environment. Tehran. (In Farsi)
17.Soulsby, E. J. L. 1986. Helminthes, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animal. 7th Edition, pp: 692-705. Bailliere Tindall. London.
18.Tavassoli, M. 2006. Veterinary Protozoology, First edition. pp. 174-178. Jahad Daneshgahi Publication. Urmia. (In Farsi)
19.Yoshimoto, M., K. Ozawa, H. Kondo, Y. Echigoya, H. Shibuya, Y. Sato and R. N. M. Sehgal. 2020. A fatal case of a captive snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) with Haemoproteus infection in Japan. Parasitology Research 120: 277–28.
20.Youssefi, M.R., A. Gerami Sadeghian and B. Esfandiari. 2010. Prevalence of Haemoproteus columbae Infection in Columba livia in North of Iran. World Journal of Zoology 5(4): 275-277.
Veterinary Research & Biological Products
Volume 35, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
September 2022
Pages 39-43

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 31 July 2021
  • Revise Date: 19 September 2021
  • Accept Date: 25 September 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics