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 area of Africa, Asia and extreme southern Europe. In this study the prevalence of Aegyptianella spp. was evaluated in four genera of domestic poultry in the northern, southern and central regions of Lorestan province 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 areas of the regions. Twenty one (7.6%) out of 275 birds used in this study were infected with the organisms. The detected 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 than one-half of the infected birds with the Aegyptianella species were located in these regions. The structure morphology of Aegyptianella spp. was studied using light and electron microscopy. The results of the study by electron microscopy demonstrated the developmental stage as well as implemented similar and different extra/intra genus.