| Summary: | The <i>Leucocytozoon</i> genus comprises numerous widely distributed parasites which have been less investigated than other avian hemoprotozoa. Their occurrence is common, with very variable prevalence values and pathogenicity degrees. <i>Leucocytozoon</i> species are characterized by a great taxonomic diversity, and infections are usually restricted to birds of the same family. In the present paper, a mixed hemosporidia infection by <i>Leucocytozoon californicus</i> and <i>Haemoproteus</i> sp. in an adult male merlin (<i>Falco columbarius</i>) which died during hospitalisation is reported, indicating, for the first time, a newly described avian host species. A molecular investigation was carried out through <i>cytochrome</i> b gene analysis, revealing a 100% match with <i>L. californicus</i> and <i>Haemoproteus</i> spp. A blood smear examination allowed us to detect <i>Leucocytozoon</i> fusiform mature gametocytes and different degrees of maturity of <i>Haemoproteus</i> gametocytes. Histopathology revealed foci of necrosis, hemorrhagic areas and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver, the presence of microthrombi in the heart and lung and scattered hemorrhages in the lung.
|
|---|