Erster Nachweis von Sarcocystis calchasi bei Habichten (Accipiter gentilis) und Sperbern (Accipiter nisus) in Norddeutschland und Beschreibung zweier neuer, nah verwandter Sarcocystis-Arten

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This study presents the first identification of Sarcocystis calchasi in Northern goshawks and European sparrowhawks from Northern Germany, alongside descriptions of two closely related novel Sarcocystis species. First described in 2009, S. calchasi is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for severe central nervous disease in domestic pigeons, leading to significant fatalities among racing pigeons. The life cycle involves the Northern goshawk as the final host and the domestic pigeon as the intermediate host. Previously found only in pigeons in Berlin, this research aimed to assess S. calchasi's prevalence in goshawks and related species. Given the low host specificity of avian Sarcocystis species, the study also sought to identify additional hosts, evaluating whether European sparrowhawks and wood pigeons might harbor S. calchasi. Two novel species, Sarcocystis columbae and Sarcocystis sp. ex A. nisus, were discovered and characterized using microscopy and molecular techniques. Notably, 92% of goshawks and 100% of sparrowhawks tested positive for at least one Sarcocystis species, with about 50% infected with all three. S. calchasi was detected in goshawks as early as 1997, suggesting a broader host range that may include songbirds. The overlapping habitats of these birds indicate that S. calchasi may be more widespread than previously recognized, warranting further epidemiological studies and consideration of human activities,