Three free-roaming Victoria crowned pigeons (Goura victoria) housed in a completely enclosed tropical exhibit were found dead without antemortem signs of illness. The birds died within 9 days of each other. Gross necropsy revealed moderate pulmonary edema in all three birds. Histopathologic examination revealed pulmonary edema and pulmonary protozoal merozoites compatible with Sarcocystis spp., Toxoplasma gondii, or Neospora spp. infection. Immunohistochemical staining for T. gondii and Neospora spp. were negative. Immunohistochemical staining identified a Sarcocystis falcatula-like parasite in all three birds. It is suspected that new exhibit soil contaminated with feces from the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was the source of the infective sporocysts.
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1 June 2001
ACUTE PULMONARY SARCOCYSTIS FALCATULA-LIKE INFECTION IN THREE VICTORIA CROWNED PIGEONS (GOURA VICTORIA) HOUSED INDOORS
WmKirk Suedmeyer,
Alex J. Bermudez,
Bradd C. Barr,
Antoinette E. Marsh
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 32 • No. 2
June 2001
Vol. 32 • No. 2
June 2001
Didelphis virginiana
Goura victoria
pulmonary edema
Sarcocystis falcatula
Victoria crowned pigeon
Virginia opossum