Histopathologic analysis performed on tissue samples from 34 captive psittacine birds over a 14-year period demonstrated gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis. Although 8 birds had died unexpectedly, at least 10 showed gastrointestinal signs before death. Most birds had other significant pathologic lesions, unrelated to cryptosporidiosis, in which case Cryptosporidium was likely a secondary pathogen. However, in 11 birds the only significant histopathologic finding was gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis. In 2 lovebird (Agapornis species) cases, direct sequencing of proventricular samples confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium avian genotype III. A description and analysis of the pathologic findings in these 34 birds, as well as a review of avian gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis, is provided.
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1 December 2014
Gastrointestinal Cryptosporidiosis in Captive Psittacine Birds in the United States: A Case Review
Michelle L. Ravich,
Drury R. Reavill,
Laurie Hess,
April L. Childress,
James F. X. Wellehan
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Cryptosporidium
parasitology
pathology
proventriculus
psittacine birds