OCCURRENCE OF COCCIDIA (CARYOSPORA-NEOFALCONIS AND CARYOSPORA-KUTZERI) IN BIRDS OF PREY IN FALCON BREEDING FACILITY IN MILOTICE IN THE CZECH-REPUBLIC

Parasitological examinations of 430 faecal samples collected from 91 b irds of prey kept in the Falcon Breeding Facility in Milotice belongin g to 10 species were conducted in 1991-1992. Caryospora neofalconis wa s first detected in 4 falcons suffering from diarrhoea and lethargy in 1991. Subsequently oocysts C. neofalconis were found in 68 samples co llected from 30 birds. The first finding of C, kutzeri was recorded in 1992 in faecal samples from a clinically normal gyrfalcon (Falco rust icolus) imported from Denmark. Subsequent examinations of 327 faecal s amples demonstrated oocysts of C. kutzeri in 11 of the 77 birds examin ed. Concurrent infection by oocysts of both species was found in one k estrel (F. tinnunculus). Repeated examinations demonstrated that C. ne ofalconis was replaced by C. kutzeri in two hobby falcons (F. subbuteo ) and two saker falcons (F. cherrug). Of the falcons showing weight lo ss, lethargy and diarrhoea, seven were infected by C. neofalconis and three by C. kutzeri. Treatment of the infected birds with Sulfakombin (Galena, Opava, Czech Republic) resulted in full clinical recovery and suppression of oocysts shedding for several weeks. Although oocysts s hedding resumed later, no clinical signs developed in the prior treate d animals.