Prevalence of Sarcocysts in the Muscles of Raptors From a Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina

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dc.contributor.authorvon Dohlen, Alexa Rosypalen
dc.contributor.authorScott, Daviden
dc.contributor.authorDubey, Jitender P.en
dc.contributor.authorLindsay, David S.en
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-06T17:56:59Zen
dc.date.available2020-03-06T17:56:59Zen
dc.date.issued2019-01-22en
dc.description.abstractThe life cycle of Sarcocystis species is heteroxenous (2-host), with carnivores being the definitive host and herbivores serving as intermediate hosts in predator-prey relationships. Raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls) are apex predators and are not consumed routinely by other carnivores, making the occurrence of sarcocysts in their muscles unusual. Recent reports of sarcocysts in eagles and owls with Sarcocystis encephalitis suggests that this condition may be becoming more frequent, and Sarcocystis falcatula has been implicated as the agent of encephalitis in golden (Aquila chrysaetos) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as well as great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). The present study was done to determine the prevalence of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis species in the muscles of raptors from the southeastern United States. Pectoral and heart muscle from 204 raptor patients from the Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina were tested for the presence of Sarcocystis species using histology. Only a few sarcocysts were seen in sections of pectoral muscle from 39 of 204 raptors (19.1%) and heart muscle from 9 that also had sarcocysts in their pectoral muscle. Two structural types of sarcocysts, thin-walled (1 mu m; 62%) or thick-walled (>2 mu m, 38%), were seen. Statistical analysis of raptor age and gender was done by Fisher's exact test on samples from raptors with 20 or more samples per group. The prevalence of sarcocysts by age (2 yr or more) was significant for red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) (P = 0.022) and Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) (P = 0.028). Sarcocyst prevalence in male raptors from these groups evaluated statistically were always less than in females. Prevalence in female red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) (42.1%) was significantly greater than in males (6.7%) using Fisher's exact test (P = 0.047). Examination of case histories from the 39 sarcocyst-positive raptors did not reveal an association with sarcocysts in raptor pectoral or heart muscle and in a diagnosis of encephalitis. Additional studies are needed to determine the epidemiology and relationships of Sarcocystis spp. that use raptors as intermediate hosts and the importance of Sarcocystis spp. in the overall wellbeing of raptors in their natural environments.en
dc.description.adminPublic domain – authored by a U.S. government employeeen
dc.description.notesWe would like to thank the staff and students at the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, North Carolina for providing us with samples. This work was supported by grant 1505407 from the National Science Foundation Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program to A.v.D. and an Intramural Research Competition (IRC) grant from the VirginiaMaryland College of Veterinary Medicine to D.S.L. We thank the numerous undergraduate students from Johnson C. Smith University and undergraduate and graduate students from Virginia Tech for assistance with this project. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture;; USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Science Foundation Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program [1505407]; Intramural Research Competition (IRC) grant from the VirginiaMaryland College of Veterinary Medicineen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1645/18-139en
dc.identifier.eissn1937-2345en
dc.identifier.issn0022-3395en
dc.identifier.issue1en
dc.identifier.pmid30807729en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/97232en
dc.identifier.volume105en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCreative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedicationen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/en
dc.subjectSarcocystisen
dc.subjectSarcocysten
dc.subjectRaptoren
dc.subjectIntermediate Hosten
dc.subjectDefinitive Hosten
dc.subjectPredatoren
dc.subjectHawken
dc.subjectOwlen
dc.subjectEagleen
dc.subjectVultureen
dc.titlePrevalence of Sarcocysts in the Muscles of Raptors From a Rehabilitation Center in North Carolinaen
dc.title.serialJournal of Parasitologyen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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