Occurrence ofGiardiaandCryptosporidiumin wild birds in Galicia (Northwest Spain)

Abstract

SUMMARYFaecal samples were obtained from 433 wild birds being treated in wildlife recovery centres in Galicia (Northwest Spain), between February 2007 and September 2009. The birds belonged to 64 species representing 17 different orders.Giardiacysts andCryptosporidiumoocysts were detected by an immunofluorescence antibody test and identified at the molecular level by established PCR-sequencing methods. The overall prevalence ofGiardiawas 2·1% and that ofCryptosporidium, 8·3%. To our knowledge, this is the first description ofGiardiasp. inTyto albaandCaprimulgus europaeus; and ofCryptosporidiumsp. inApus apus, Athene noctua, C. europaeus, Falco tinnunculus, Morus bassanus, Parabuteo unicinctusandStrix aluco. Furthermore, the first PCR-sequence confirmed detection ofGiardia duodenalisassemblage B in,Buteo buteo, Coturnix coturnixandPica pica; G. duodenalisassemblage D inGarrulus glandarius; andG. duodenalisassemblage F inAnas platyrhynchos; Cryptosporidium parvuminAccipiter nisus, B. buteo, Milvus migrans, Pernis apivorusandP. pica; andCryptosporidium meleagridisinStreptopelia turtur. The study findings demonstrate the wide spread ofGiardiaandCryptosporidiumbetween wild birds.