Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of
Date of this Version
4-1948
Abstract
On August 9, 1944, near Columbus, Ohio, Breiding collected an immature male black and white warbler (Mniotilta varia). Upon preparing it as a study skin, the bird was found to be heavily infected with Sarcocystis. This experience was repeated with an adult male Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia), taken near Cheat Bridge, Randolph County, West Virginia, June 14, 1945. Both birds appeared to be in healthy condition.
Two species of wood warbler, the olive-backed warbler (Parula pitiayumi) and the American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) have previously been recorded as hosts for this organism (Erickson, Auk, 57: 114-119, 1940). As far as we have been able to determine, Sarcocystis has not previously been recorded from the species mentioned above.
Spindler and Zimmerman (Journal of Parasitology suppl. to Vol. 31: 13, December 1945) reported the species infecting swine to be a fungus (Aspergillus sp.), rather than a protozoan. It is possible that the avian species will be found to have a similar life cycle.
Comments
Published in the Auk (1948) 65(2): 295-296. Copyright 1948, the American Ornithologists' Union. Used by permission.