o:3621 Isospora and Lankesterella Parasites (Eimeriidae, Apicomplexa) of Passeriform Birds in Europe: Infection Rates, Phylogeny, and Pathogenicity. en Wild birds are common hosts to numerous intracellular parasites such as single-celled eukaryotes of the family Eimeriidae (order Eucoccidiorida, phylum Apicomplexa). We investigated the infection rates, phylogeny, and pathogenicity of Isospora and Lankesterella parasites in wild and captive passerine birds. Blood and tissue samples of 815 wild and 15 deceased captive birds from Europe were tested using polymerase chain reaction and partial sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase I and the nuclear 18S rRNA gene. The infection rate for Lankesterella in wild birds was 10.7% compared to 5.8% for Isospora. Chromogenic in situ hybridization with probes targeting the parasites' 18S rRNA was employed to identify the parasites' presence in multiple organs, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to visualize the parasite stages and assess associated lesions. Isospora parasites were mainly identified in the intestine, spleen, and liver. Extraintestinal tissue stages of Isospora were accompanied by predominantly lymphohistiocytic inflammation of varying severity. Lankesterella was most frequently detected in the spleen, lung, and brain; however, infected birds presented only a low parasite burden without associated pathological changes. These findings contribute to our understanding of Isospora and Lankesterella parasites in wild birds. Molecular Characterization; Atoxoplasma Garnham; Usutu-Virus; N-Sp; Hemoparasites; Coccidia; Frogs; Spp.; Domesticus; Caryospora 1552099 10.3390/pathogens13040337 2024-10-18T09:48:09.330Z 44 yes 46 Carina Keckeisen University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Alžbeta Šujanová Slovak Academy of Sciences / Nature Research Centre person 0000-0002-1727-8370 Tanja Himmel University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna / Medical University of Vienna person 0000-0001-9443-8967 Julia Matt University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna person Nora Nedorost University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna person Carolina R. F. Chagas Nature Research Centre person 0000-0002-7884-9085 Herbert Weissenböck University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna person 0000-0001-8197-6379 Josef Harl University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna / Medical University of Vienna person 0000-0002-4915-3943 application/pdf 7216090 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:3621 no yes 16 70 1552253 Pathogens 30 13 4 MDPI 2024