Fox J H, Greiner E C, Bain P, Jones R
College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Avian Dis. 1996 Apr-Jun;40(2):477-9.
Severe anemia and intraerythrocytic stages of an unusual Plasmodium sp. were identified in the blood of a 5-month-old female emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) that had a 4-week history of malaise. Examination of blood taken 3 days prior to the death of the bird revealed a packed cell volume of 10%. Erythrocytes showed a marked regenerative response. Approximately 4% of erythrocytes had intracytoplasmic inclusions, mainly within immature cells, resembling malarial parasites. The schizonts were a combination of the Haemamoeba and Huffia subgenera type with 8-16 merozoites in mature forms. The gametoctyes were elongate. The abnormal morphology was probably a reflection of a new host-parasite relationship. Exoerythrocytic parasite stages were not identified at necropsy. The anemia was tentatively attributed to the Plasmodium infection.
在一只5个月大、出现了4周不适症状的雌性鸸鹋（Dromaius novaehollandiae）血液中，发现了严重贫血以及一种不寻常疟原虫属的红细胞内期。对该鸟死亡前3天采集的血液检查显示，血细胞比容为10%。红细胞呈现出明显的再生反应。约4%的红细胞有胞质内包涵体，主要存在于未成熟细胞内，类似疟原虫。裂殖体是血变原虫属和赫氏疟原虫亚属类型的组合，成熟形式有8 - 16个裂殖子。配子体呈细长形。这种异常形态可能反映了一种新的宿主 - 寄生虫关系。尸检时未发现红细胞外期寄生虫阶段。贫血初步归因于疟原虫感染。
