MALARIA IN A CAPTIVE EMU (DROMAIUS-NOVAEHOLLANDIAE) FROM FLORIDA

Severe anemia and intraerythrocytic stages of an unusual Plasmodium sp . were identified in the blood of a 5-month-old female emu (Dromaius n ovaehollandiae) that had a 4-week history of malaise. Examination of b lood taken 3 days prior to the death of the bird revealed a packed cel l volume of 10%. Erythrocytes showed a marked regenerative response. A pproximately 4% of erythrocytes had intracytoplasmic inclusions, mainl y 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 abno rmal morphology was probably a reflection of a new host-parasite relat ionship. Exoerythrocytic parasite stages were not identified at necrop sy. The anemia was tentatively attributed to the Plasmodium infection.