Plasmodium sp infecting turkeys in northern Nigeria
Barnes, H.J.
Veterinary Record 95(10): 218-219
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 4450382 Document Number: 79339
Examination under oil immersion of blood films of 29 turkeys in the Zaria area of Northern Nigeria revealed trophozoites and gametocytes of a Plasmodium sp. in four birds. The morphology of the schizonts was characteristic of the subgenus Novyella, but full identification has yet to be made. I/v inoculation of two Plasmodium-negative turkeys with whole blood from a young adult male turkey, which exhibited recurrent bouts of depression, anorexia and diarrhoea, did not induce clinical signs, but examination of blood films indicated that the parasitaemia had been transmitted. No organisms were seen in the blood of chickens four weeks after i/p injection of infected blood.