Sarcocystis cristata sp. nov. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the imported great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata (Aves, Musophagidae)

Abstract Background Species of Sarcocystis are parasitic protozoa in poikilothermic and homeothermic animals. Out the 26 valid species birds as intermediate hosts, none has been reported those order Musophagiformes, such great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata (Vieillot, 1816), which is a bird endemic to Central Western Africa. The examination turacos imported from Africa Republic Czech allowed morphological molecular characterization new . Methods Four private breeder (Czech Republic) underwent parasitological for presence sarcocysts through wet mounts breast, heart leg muscles. Found parasites were molecularly histologically studied by four loci ( 18S rRNA, 28S ITS1 cox1 ) haematoxylin eosin staining, respectively. Results Three out examined harboured numerous breast No macroscopic lesions where observed. Sarcocysts microscopic, elongate ribbon-shaped with wall characterised finger-shaped villar protrusions filled elongate, banana-shaped bradyzoites, 11.87–14.84 × 2.05–2.92 µm size. was most closely related albifronsi , anasi atraii chloropusae rileyi wenzeli sp. isolate chicken loci. Conclusions To our knowledge, this first found musophagiform worldwide. Genetically, S. nov. represents distinct species. Phylogenetic analyses useful predicting potential definitive hosts graphical