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Detection and characterization of the Isospora lunaris infection from different finch hosts in southern Iran

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Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the Isosporoid protozoan infections in finch types. Fecal samples were collected from marketed domestic Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora), colored and white Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), and European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) in southern Iran. The coccidial oocysts were recovered and investigated according to the morphological features and the ribosomal gene markers. Additionally, a challenge infection was conducted with 5 × 104 and 5 × 103 sporulated oocysts in four java sparrows to estimate the clinical manifestations. Based on the morphology, the oocysts of Isospora lunaris were identified in all sampled bird types; however, the molecular method revealed the isolates had considerable similarities with some of Isospora and systemic Isospora-like organisms named as Atoxoplasma. Phylogenetic data also constructed an Atoxoplasma/Isospora clade with high sequence identities. High dose of the challenge with the parasite led to severe depression and sudden death, but it did not coincide with remarkable lesions and parasitic invasion in visceral organs. Contrary to molecular results, this feature is consistent with the common Isospora infections in passerines and differs from those described for Atoxoplasma species. Because of the prevalence, possibility of transmission, and clinical consequences, preventive measures are necessary to avoid outbreaks of isosporoid infections among finch type birds.

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Funding

This study was thankfully supported by a grant from Shiraz University (Grant No. 1/2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 71441-69155, Shiraz, Iran

    Ehsan Rakhshandehroo, Fatemeh Fakhrahmad, Jalal Aliabadi, Amir Mootabi Alavi & Mohammad Asadpour

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  1. Ehsan Rakhshandehroo
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  2. Fatemeh Fakhrahmad
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  3. Jalal Aliabadi
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  4. Amir Mootabi Alavi
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  5. Mohammad Asadpour
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Correspondence to Ehsan Rakhshandehroo.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Experimental procedures were approved by the Iranian animal ethics committee in Shiraz University Research Council (IACUC, No: 4687/63).

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Section Editor: Nawal Hijjawi

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Rakhshandehroo, E., Fakhrahmad, F., Aliabadi, J. et al. Detection and characterization of the Isospora lunaris infection from different finch hosts in southern Iran. Parasitol Res 120, 257–265 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06962-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06962-3

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