Sarcocystis Cristata sp. nov. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in The Imported Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola Cristata (Aves, Musophagidae) from Czech Republic

Abstract Background: Species of Sarcocystis are parasitic protozoan in poikilothermic and homeothermic animals. Out of the 25 valid avian species, none has been reported in birds of the order Musophagiformes, as the great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata (Vieillot, 1816), which is an endemic bird inhabiting Central and Western Africa. The examination of great blue turacos imported from the Central Africa Republic to Czech Republic allowed the morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of Sarcocystis.Methods: Four turacos imported from the Central Africa Republic to private breeder (Czech Republic) were parasitologically examined through wet mounts of breast, heart and legs muscles for the presence of sarcocysts. Found parasites were molecular and histologically studied by 4 loci (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1 and cox1) and haematoxylin and eosin stain, respectively. Results: Three out of 4 examined birds (prevalence: 75%) harboured numerous sarcocysts in breast and leg muscles. No macroscopic lesions where observed. Sarcocysts were microscopic, elongate and ribbon-shaped with a wall characterised by the presence of finger-shaped villar protrusions. The new species is molecularly similar to S. albifronsi, S. anasi, S. atraii, S. chloropusae, S. lari and S. rileyi) in the four loci. Conclusions: This is the first species of Sarcocystis in a musophagiform bird around the world. Genetically, S. cristata sp. nov. represents a distinct species. Phylogenetic analyses are useful for predicting potential definitive hosts of the new Sarcocystis species.