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Isolation and characterization of an avian isolate of Encephalitozoon hellem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2000

K. F. SNOWDEN
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4467, USA
K. LOGAN
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4467, USA
D. N. PHALEN
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4467, USA

Abstract

Members of the phylum Microspora are a group of unusual, obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites that infect a wide range of hosts. However, there are a limited number of microsporidial infections reported in avian hosts, and no parasite species has been defined as an avian pathogen. A microsporidian organism was recovered from the droppings of a clinically normal peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) and established in in vitro culture. Intermittent parasite spore shedding was documented over a 2-month period using calcofluor M2R staining of cloacal swabs. The organism was identified as Encephalitozoon hellem based on protein and antigenic profiles and molecular sequencing of the small subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal RNA gene.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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