Presentation by: Sara Meyers Nicole Haight Leucocytozoon Presentation by: Sara Meyers Nicole Haight

Leucocytozoon It is the most important blood protozoa of birds It infects both wild and domestic host birds Over 60 different species of Leucocytozoon are found in various birds Belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa First seen by Danilewsky in 1884

Hosts Definitive host: Birds, both domestic and wild Intermediate host/vector : Black flies (family Simuliidae) Notable species: ~L. simondi- ducks, geese and swans ~L. smithi- wild and domistic turkeys ~L. caulleryi- chickens

Geographic Distribution Cases of Leucocytozoon have been reported all over, except Antarctica, due to the inability for the vector to survive

Morphology Gametocytes are 12-14 µm long on a fixed smear- up to 22 µm in living cells Macrogametocytes have a red staining nucleus Microgametocytes have a pale staining diffuse nucleus

Leucocytozoonosis Young birds are more susceptible, older birds are more resistant Infection is seasonal, usually when the weather warms up, this is when vectors are more available Survivors obtain immunity from re-infection, but often suffer chronic, low levels of infection - reservoirs for parasites Sudden onset of infection, spreads quickly

Clinical Signs Often Asymptomatic Anemia Elevated leukocyte count Enlarged and necrotic liver Enlarged spleen - up to 20x its normal size! Fatal if brain or heart tissue are destroyed Emaciation Difficulty breathing Weakness or lameness in one or both legs

Treatment Control the vector populations No vaccines are currently available for general use

Work Cited Atkinson, Carter T. “Chapter 24: Hemosporidiosis” Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases: Birds. pp. 193-200. 2008. http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/chapter_24.pdf Janovy, John Jr. and Roberts, Larry S., Gerald D. Schmidt and Larry S. Robert’s Foundations of Parasitology, 7th edition, 2005.