The emergence of in falcons in Central Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the occurrence of in falcons from the central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fecal samples ( = 149) from 149 healthy falcons including 56 saker falcons , 13 lanner falcons (, 18 peregrine falcons , 40 Barbary falcons , and 22 gyrfalcons ( were collected between October 2018 and May 2019. The fecal samples were examined for the presence of C. neofalconis by microscopic examination followed by confirmation by polymerase chain reaction targeting genes and their phylogenetic analyses.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of in the falcons was recorded as 10.7% (16/149) by microscopic examination. The highest prevalence was found in (6/18, 33.3%), followed by (3/22, 13.6%), (5/56, 8.9 %) and (2/40, 5.0%). There was no C. neofalconis infection observed in . The gene could be amplified in eight samples. The phylogenetic analysis of two isolates exhibited a close relationship with the Mexican isolate (KT03081) with a 99.7% identity.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, based on the microscopic and molecular analysis, this is the first report of in , , , and from the central region of the KSA and it emphasize the value of adopting preventive measures to limit the spread of .