Prevalence and ultrastructural study of Aegyptianella spp. in domestic birds from southwestern area, Iran

Aegyptianellosis is a disease caused by small intraerythrocytic inclusions which is restricted to the areaof Africa, Asia and extreme southern Europe. In this study the prevalence of Aegyptianella spp. wasevaluated in four genera of domestic poultry in the northern, southern and central regions of Lorestanprovince from April to September 2008. A total of 275 native adult birds including chickens, ducks, geese,and turkeys which were bred in free range pasture condition were used for blood sampling in the rural areasof the regions. Twenty one (7.6%) out of 275 birds used in this study were infected with the organisms. Thedetected Aegyptianella were found in 7 chickens (33.3%), 2 ducks (9.5%), 7 geese (33.3%), and 5 turkeys(23.9%), respectively. The majority of the records were from the northeastern regions. Therefore, more thanone-half of the infected birds with the Aegyptianella species were located in these regions. The structuremorphology of Aegyptianella spp. was studied using light and electron microscopy. The results of the studyby electron microscopy demonstrated the developmental stage as well as implemented similar and differentextra/intra genus.