FatalInfection in Three Penguins.

Abstract

is a well-known cause of fatal pneumonia in some birds, particularly Old World psittacines. Here we describe fatal sarcosystosis due toin 3 penguins (Family Spheniscidae) under managed care, including one African penguin (), and two Southern rockhopper penguins (). Randomly distributed foci of necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltrates, edema, and variable numbers of round to elongated protozoal schizonts were observed in sections of lung. Protozoal organisms exhibited strong immunoreactivity forsp. antigen by immunohistochemistry. Apicomplexan andgenus-specific PCR assays and sequence analysis confirmedas the etiologic agent. These cases of fatal pneumonia attributed toexpand the list of aberrant intermediate avian hosts, with particular implications for penguins.