A Study on the Presence of Leucocytozoonosis in Wild Birds of Burdur District

Authors: ÖZLEM ÖZMEN, MEHMET HALIGÜR, BAYRAM ALİ YUKARI

Abstract: From 2000 to 2004, 53 wild birds (16 pigeons, 16 quails, 10 pheasants, 4 partridges, 3 stock doves, and 1 ibis, peacock, owl chick and falcon) were examined grossly and microscopically at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Akdeniz. Thirty-seven of these birds were dead. Blood samples were taken from the 16 live birds before euthanasia. Tissue samples were also taken for histopathological examination during the necropsies. Leucocytozoon marchouxi was diagnosed in 5 pigeons during the microscopic examinations of blood samples and tissue sections, whereas 1 owl chick died from acute severe L. ziemanni infection.

Keywords: Wild birds, Leucocytozoon, blood parasite

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