Cryptosporidium meleagridisin an Indian ring‐necked parrot (Psittacu la krameri)

Abstract

Objective To perform a morphological and genetic characterisation of a Cryptosporidium infection in an Indian ring‐necked parrot (Psittacula krameri) and to compare this with C meleagridis from a turkey. Design Tissue and intestinal sections from an Indian ring‐necked parrot were examined microscopically for Cryptosporidium. The organism was also purified from the crop and intestine, the DNAextracted and a portion of the 18S rDNA gene amplified, sequenced and compared with sequence and biological information obtained for C meleagridis from a turkey as well as sequence information for other species of Cryptosporidium. Results Morphological examination of tissue sections from an Indian ring‐necked parrot revealed large numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts attached to the apical border of enterocytes lining the intestinal tract. Purified Cryptosporidium oocysts measured about 5.1 × 4.5 μm, which conformed morphologically to C meleagridis. The sequence obtained from this isolate was identical to sequence information obtained from a C meleagridis isolate from a turkey. Conclusion Cryptosporidium meleagridis was detected in an Indian ring‐necked parrot using morphological and molecular methods. This is the first time that this species of Cryptosporidium has been reported in a non‐galliform host and extends the known host range of C meleagridis.