Heavy infestation of phoenicolepsis nakurensis in a flamingo (phoenicopterus ruber) in van

The material of this study was consisted of a major flamingo brought to the animal hospital on June, 2013 with complaints of weakness, anorexia and diarrhoea. During the clinical examination, animal died and later autopsy was performed. Macroscopically; sanguineous exudates in abdominal cavity, hyperaemic intestinal serosa with thickened and smooth loops were observed. In the epithelium, erosions and ulcerations were observed. In addition to these macroscopical findings, adult parasites were observed in the intestinal lumen. After autopsy, tissue samples were acquired in 10% formalin solution and intestinal content were sent to laboratory for histopathological examination. Hyperaemia on the intestinal serosa and enteritis characterized with oedema and haemorrhage were determined according to the histopathological examination. Villous atrophy in the intestinal epithelium was determined as a result of necrosis, erosion and ulceration. After parasitological examination, adult form and eggs of Phoenicolepsis nakurensis were observed. As this is the first case reported in our country and this parasite may be an important reason for death caused by enteritis in flamingos; it is concluded that taking this parasite into consideration will be beneficial.