Prevalence of Caryospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Falcons in the United Arab Emirates

A total of 3975 fecal samples, originated from the same number of individual birds, from 7 dedicated falcon hospitals, were examined to determine the prevalence of Caryospora species in the falcon population used in the sport of falconry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From that total, 297 (7.5%) were positive for the presence of Caryospora species. The falcons were all captive bred within the UAE and abroad, mainly from Germany, Spain, the United States, and Canada. Positive samples for the presence of Caryospora species were sporulated, and the taxonomy was established based on morphologic characteristics. The results showed the prevalence of the following Caryospora species: C kutzeri 41.4%, C neofalconis 25.6%, C megafalconis 18.2%, C falconis 10.4%, C cherrughi 3.7%, and C boeri 0.7%. The prevalence of Caryospora species among the various falcon species in this study was: gyr x peregrine hybrid falcons (Falco rusticolus x Falco peregrinus), 27.3%; gyr falcons (Falco rusticolus), 25.6%; peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), 20.5%; saker falcons (Falco cherrug), 16.5%; gyr x saker hybrid falcons (Falco rusticolus x Falco cherrug), 8.1%; Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), 1%; red-napped shaheen (Falco pelegrinoides babylonicus), 0.7%; and American kestrels (Falco sparverius), 0.3%.