Sarcocystis falcatula-associated encephalitis in a free-ranging great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

Correspondence: 1 Corresponding Author: Arno Wünschmann, University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, 1333 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, e-mail: wunsc001{at}umn.edu A great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus ) was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic with severe neurologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation 2009-03, Vol.21 (2), p.283-287
Main Authors: Wunschmann, Arno, Rejmanek, Daniel, Cruz-Martinez, Luis, Barr, Bradd C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal pathology
Animals
Bird Diseases - parasitology
brain
brain stem
Bubo virginianus
case studies
central nervous system diseases
disease diagnosis
disease severity
DNA, Protozoan - chemistry
DNA, Protozoan - genetics
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics
encephalitis
Encephalitis - parasitology
Encephalitis - veterinary
etiology
Female
histopathology
immunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry - veterinary
molecular epidemiology
necropsy
neuropathy
polymerase chain reaction
Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary
Sarcocystis - genetics
Sarcocystis - isolation & purification
Sarcocystis falcatula
sarcocystosis
Sarcocystosis - parasitology
Sarcocystosis - veterinary
Strigiformes
wild birds
wildlife diseases
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Summary:Correspondence: 1 Corresponding Author: Arno Wünschmann, University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, 1333 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, e-mail: wunsc001{at}umn.edu A great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus ) was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic with severe neurologic signs that were unresponsive to supportive care. The animal was euthanatized because of a poor prognosis. Marked granulomatous encephalitis with focal brainstem malacia was detected microscopically. The brainstem was the most severely affected brain location and the only place in which schizonts and merozoites, morphologically compatible with Sarcocystis spp., were detected. Immunohistochemistry with the use of polyclonal antisera indicated the presence of Sarcocystis falcatula . The species identification of the protozoa as S. falcatula was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous S. falcatula –associated encephalitis in a great horned owl. Key Words: Great horned owls • immunohistochemistry • polymerase chain reaction • protozoal encephalitis • Sarcocystis falcatula
ISSN:1040-6387
1943-4936
DOI:10.1177/104063870902100223