Molecular Confirmation of Birds of Prey as Definitive Hosts of Numerous Species, including sp., Closely Related to Pathogenic . .

The present study aimed to test intestinal scrapings of the Northern Goshawk () and the Eurasian Sparrowhawk () from Lithuania for . and other species characterised by bird-bird life cycles. The protozoan parasite can cause respiratory and neurological diseases in a variety of birds; however, the distribution of this parasite is not well-examined. species were identified with nested PCR and sequencing of the partial region. Sporocysts and/or sporulated oocysts of spp. were observed in 16 (100%) Northern Goshawks and 9 (56.3%) Eurasian Sparrowhawks. Four species, . , . , . , and . , were confirmed in the Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Apart from the latter four species, . , . , . , and . were established in the Northern Goshawk. A higher prevalence of spp. and species richness in Northern Goshawks is associated with the differences in the diet of two examined species. This study is the first report of . in Lithuania. Furthermore, the genetically distinct species spp. 23LTAcc, which is most closely related to . , was found in three Northern Goshawks.