Publikationsdatenbank

Prevalence of Sarcocystis calchasi in free-ranging host species:
Accipiter hawks and Common Woodpigeon in Germany (2018)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Parmentier, Sylvia L

Maier-Sam, Kristina

Failing, Klaus

Enderlein, Dirk

Gruber, A.D. (WE 12)

Lierz, Michael

Quelle

Scientific reports

Bandzählung: 8

Seiten: Article number: 17610

ISSN: 2045-2322

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35862-x

Pubmed: 30514865

Kontakt

Institut für Tierpathologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 15
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62450
pathologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

The apicomplexan parasite Sarcocystis calchasi (S. calchasi) triggers pigeon protozoal encephalitis, a neurologic disease in columbids. Accipiter hawks have been identified as the final host, and Columbidae and Psittaciformes as intermediate hosts. In this study, 368 free-ranging Accipiter hawks and 647 free-ranging common woodpigeons were sampled in a country-wide study in order to identify the prevalence of S. calchasi in these populations. A semi-nested PCR specific for S. calchasi tested positive in 7.3% (4.9-10.5) of submitted samples from Accipiter hawks. Juvenile Accipiter hawks (13.7%; 7.7-22.0) had a significantly higher infection rate with S. calchasi than adult Accipiter hawks (5.8%; 2.7-9.3). The prevalence of S. calchasi in common woodpigeons was 3.3% (5.4-9.7). Positive pigeons were identified in 14/16 federal states, and a region-dependency was detected, with higher rates of infection in the eastern parts of Germany. The results of this study suggest that the common woodpigeon is a natural reservoir for S. calchasi. In a study of one region for four consecutive years, an increase in prevalence was not detected. Findings indicate that the parasite is not newly introduced to Germany, but rather long established. The prevalence suggests that there is a substantial risk of S. calchasi infections in other free-ranging as well as captive host species.