Malaria in an eastern screech owl (Otus asio)

Avian Dis. 2005 Sep;49(3):433-5. doi: 10.1637/7318-122904R.1.

Abstract

Owls are frequent carriers of blood parasites but clinical malaria infections are rare. Various stages of Plasmodium subpraecox were seen in 90% of the erythrocytes of an Eastern screech owl (Otus asio) showing symptoms consistent with malaria 1 wk after admission for traumatic injuries. An additional unidentified blood parasite, either a Plasmodium or a Haemoproteus spp. was found in small numbers of red blood cells on blood films examined at admission and at day 7 postadmission. Combined infestation, trauma-induced stress, and iatrogenic corticosteroid administration are possible factors that could have induced disease. Oral treatment with mefloquine at 30 mg/kg, repeated after 12, 24, and 48 hr, proved successful in eliminating both organisms and signs of clinical disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Bird Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bird Diseases / drug therapy
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Malaria / diagnosis*
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / veterinary*
  • Mefloquine / therapeutic use
  • Parasitemia / drug therapy
  • Parasitemia / parasitology
  • Parasitemia / veterinary
  • Plasmodium / isolation & purification
  • Strigiformes / parasitology*

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Mefloquine