Serratospiculosis in a wild peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) from the Cerrado region, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Wilson Junior Oliveira,Fernanda Rosalinski-Moraes,Nataly Nogueira Ribeiro Pinto,Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe,Nathana Beatriz Martins

doi:10.7213/acad.2021.19202

Wilson Junior Oliveira, Fernanda Rosalinski-Moraes + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7213/acad.2021.19202

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Abstract

Serratospiculum spp. are common parasites of the air sacs of Falconiformes. The objective of this study was to report a case of Serratospiculum sp. infection in an adult peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). In February 2020, an adult female peregrine falcon was found in an urban area in the municipality of Uberlândia, and the environmental authorities brought it to the Wildlife Research Laboratory, at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bird was unable to fly and was in poor health condition. A clinical examination revealed severe dehydration, complete carpometacarpal fracture in the left wing, confirmed by radiography, and wheezing upon auscultation of the lungs and air sacs. To confirm a possible parasitic infection of the air sacs, an endoscopic examination was performed. Two nematodes were retrieved from the right abdominal air sac, and one identified as Serratospiculum sp. based on the distinctive epaulettes representative of this genus. Even with a low parasite burden, the bird presented characteristic clinical signs that can be associated, either directly or indirectly, with Serratospiculum sp. infection. Despite this, more studies are needed to evaluate the unknown clinical aspects of this disease.

Highlights

Nematodes of the genus Serratospiculum (Skrjabin, 1915) are common parasites of the air sacs of birds, those of the order Falconiformes
Two nematodes were retrieved from the right abdominal air sac, and one identified as Serratospiculum sp. based on the distinctive epaulettes representative of this genus
The objective of this study was to report a case of Serratospiculum sp. infection in a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) found in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Nematodes of the genus Serratospiculum (Skrjabin, 1915) are common parasites of the air sacs of birds, those of the order Falconiformes. These parasites may cause serious complications in their hosts, including fatal pneumonia, even after the hosts receive treatment (Königová et al, 2013). The adult worms lay their embryonated eggs in the air sacs of birds, which are passed through the lungs, and coughed up and swallowed, eventually reaching the. The bird showed permanent wheezing in the air sacs. A second round of radiography showed an increased density in the abdominal air sacs (Figure 1), and an endoscopy was performed to rule out parasitic air sac infection. One of the nematodes retrieved was fixed in 10% formalin and sent to the Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (LabEPar), Universidad Estadual Paulista (UNESP),

Discussion

Conclusion