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Most lovebirds (Agapornis spp.) have no distinct sexual dimorphic traits. The objective of the paper was to compare the results of two sexing methods, surgical sexing by celioscopy and DNA sexing by PCR from blood samples, in order to evaluate their effectiveness. Materials used to carry out the studies were a 2.7 mm telescope and endoscopy unit, surgical instruments and DNA sampling kits provided by Exomed.cz laboratory. Forty-two lovebirds were included in this study. The endoscopic sexing procedure was performed by the method described by Divers. Blood sampling for DNA testing by PCR method was performed from the metatarsal vein. The results were different in the case of one lovebird, endoscopic sexing revealed it as male, compared to DNA testing, where it was identified as female. DNA sexing is a non-invasive method that might be more accurate than celioscopy in this species, and bird owners have easier access to it.

Most lovebirds (Agapornis spp.) have no distinct sexual dimorphic traits. The objective of the paper was to compare the results of two sexing methods, surgical sexing by celioscopy and DNA sexing by PCR from blood samples, in order to evaluate their effectiveness. Materials used to carry out the studies were a 2.7 mm telescope and endoscopy unit, surgical instruments and DNA sampling kits provided by Exomed.cz laboratory. Forty-two lovebirds were included in this study. The endoscopic sexing procedure was performed by the method described by Divers. Blood sampling for DNA testing by PCR method was performed from the metatarsal vein. The results were different in the case of one lovebird, endoscopic sexing revealed it as male, compared to DNA testing, where it was identified as female. DNA sexing is a non-invasive method that might be more accurate than celioscopy in this species, and bird owners have easier access to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian malaria is a worldwide distributed, vector-born disease of birds caused by parasites of the order Haemosporida. There is a lack of knowledge about the presence and pathogenetic role of Haemosporida in Psittacidae. Here we report a case of avian malaria infection in lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), with the genetic characterization of the Plasmodium species involved. The birds were hosted in a zoo located in Italy, where avian malaria cases in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) were already reported. Animals (n = 11) were submitted for necropsy after sudden death and were subjected to further analyses including histopathology, bacteriology, and PCR for the research of haemosporidians. Clinical history, gross lesions and histopathological observation of schizonts, together with positive PCR results for Plasmodium spp., demonstrated that avian malaria was the cause of death for one animal and the possible cause of death for the other nine. The sequences obtained were compared using BLAST and analyzed for similarity to sequences available at the MalAvi database. Genetic analyses demonstrated a 100% nucleotide identity to Plasmodium matutinum LINN1 for all the obtained sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing avian malaria in lovebirds.

Relata-se um caso de ceratoconjuntivite causada por Encephalitozoon hellem em agapornis (Agapornis spp.) adultos, provenientes de um criatório comercial. Cinco animais apresentaram sinais clínicos de ceratoconjuntivite, blefaroespasmo e blefaroedema bilateral, com presença de secreção seropurulenta. Amostras fecais foram colhidas e foi realizado exame coproparasitológico, com resultado negativo. Dois animais foram necropsiados, sendo detectados, em impressões de raspado de conjuntiva ocular, esporos e outros estádios evolutivos de Microsporidium. A confirmação do diagnóstico foi feita pela reação em cadeia de polimerase e sequenciamento de fragmentos amplificados, com utilização de primers específicos para o gene da subunidade 18S do rRNA de E. hellem. A análise dos fragmentos amplificados demonstrou 100% de similaridade com outras sequências de E. hellem publicadas no GenBank. Este é primeiro relato de infecção por E. hellem em aves no Brasil.

Avian malaria is a worldwide distributed, vector-born disease of birds caused by parasites of the order Haemosporida. There is a lack of knowledge about the presence and pathogenetic role of Haemosporida in Psittacidae. Here we report a case of avian malaria infection in lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), with the genetic characterization of the Plasmodium species involved. The birds were hosted in a zoo located in Italy, where avian malaria cases in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) were already reported. Animals (n = 11) were submitted for necropsy after sudden death and were subjected to further analyses including histopathology, bacteriology, and PCR for the research of haemosporidians. Clinical history, gross lesions and histopathological observation of schizonts, together with positive PCR results for Plasmodium spp., demonstrated that avian malaria was the cause of death for one animal and the possible cause of death for the other nine. The sequences obtained were compared using BLAST and analyzed for similarity to sequences available at the MalAvi database. Genetic analyses demonstrated a 100% nucleotide identity to Plasmodium matutinum LINN1 for all the obtained sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing avian malaria in lovebirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]