Cecum Associated with Histomoniasis in Van Province, Turkey

Histomonas meleagridis (Trichomonadida; Moncercomonadidae), an effective protozoan causing the disease known as "Karabaş Hastalığı" in Turkey. This parasite, which has a cosmopolitan spread in the world, is manifesting deaths of up to 100% in young turkeys. It is also found in chickens, partridge, quail, duck, pheasant and Guinea fowl. A cecum of a 60-day old American bronze turkey was sent to our laboratory for examination from a local turkey carer in Van. In the macroscopic examination, ıt was seen that there was engorged cecum. Giemsa stained smears were prepared from these focal and examined microscopically. As a result of the examination, several flagellated form ranging from 8 to 15 µm were detected. Histomoniasis was diagnosed by considering the anemnesis obtained from the owner, engorged detected in the cecum and flagellated forms seen in the microscopic examination.