Fatal Systemic Haemosporidiosis in a Free-ranging Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

A wild adult Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) from northeastern Oregon, US, was found dead, with multiorgan necrosis and inflammation associated with protozoal schizonts and phanerozoites. Molecular characterization identified these protozoa as Plasmodium homopolare H2 and a novel Leucocytozoon sp. lineage. Fatal systemic haemosporidiosis has not been previously reported in Greater Sage-grouse.

Automated summary

A wild adult Greater Sage-grouse from Oregon, US, was found dead, with multiorgan necrosis and inflammation caused by protozoal schizonts and phanerozoites. Molecular characterization identified these protozoa as Plasmodium homopolare H2 and a novel Leucocytozoon sp. lineage. This is the first report of fatal systemic haemosporidiosis in Greater Sage-grouse.