TY - JOUR
T1 - Morishitium polonicum as a Cause of Severe Respiratory Disease in Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) in Central Italy
AU - Diaferia, Manuela
AU - Giglia, G.
AU - Mandara, Maria Teresa
AU - Morganti, Giulia
AU - Ceccherelli , Renato
AU - Veronesi, Fabrizia
AU - Lepri, Elvio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Wildlife Disease Association 2021.
PY - 2021/10/11
Y1 - 2021/10/11
N2 - Two Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) from central Italy were found with severe cyclocoelid trematodosis associated with airsacculitis. The birds were submitted with severe respiratory distress; one died shortly after hospitalization, while the second bird was euthanized. At necropsy, a massive presence of cyclocoelid flukes was observed in the coelomic cavity and air sacs of both birds. The air sacs were diffusely opaque, thickened, and covered by scant fibrinous exudate mixed with numerous parasites. Histologically, the air sacs showed diffuse and severe oedema with fibrinous exudate. Diffuse mononucleated and heterophilic infiltration mixed with multiple granulomas contained degenerated trematodes. Morishitium polonicum was identified using morphologic keys and molecular analysis of extracted DNA. Infections caused by M. polonicum are poorly documented in blackbirds and the findings in these birds support the pathogenic role of this trematode as a potential cause of death in blackbirds in Italy. Extended epidemiologic surveys are required to properly assess the potential importance of M. polonicum as a life-threatening pathogen in Blackbird populations.
AB - Two Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) from central Italy were found with severe cyclocoelid trematodosis associated with airsacculitis. The birds were submitted with severe respiratory distress; one died shortly after hospitalization, while the second bird was euthanized. At necropsy, a massive presence of cyclocoelid flukes was observed in the coelomic cavity and air sacs of both birds. The air sacs were diffusely opaque, thickened, and covered by scant fibrinous exudate mixed with numerous parasites. Histologically, the air sacs showed diffuse and severe oedema with fibrinous exudate. Diffuse mononucleated and heterophilic infiltration mixed with multiple granulomas contained degenerated trematodes. Morishitium polonicum was identified using morphologic keys and molecular analysis of extracted DNA. Infections caused by M. polonicum are poorly documented in blackbirds and the findings in these birds support the pathogenic role of this trematode as a potential cause of death in blackbirds in Italy. Extended epidemiologic surveys are required to properly assess the potential importance of M. polonicum as a life-threatening pathogen in Blackbird populations.
KW - Internal transcribed spacer 2
KW - Italy
KW - Morishitium polonicum
KW - Respiratory disease
KW - Turdus merula
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121327808&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00163
DO - 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00163
M3 - Article
SN - 0090-3558
VL - 57
SP - 906
EP - 911
JO - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
JF - Journal of Wildlife Diseases
IS - 4
ER -