Avian trichomoniasis: a study of lesions and relative prevalence in a variety of captive and free-living bird species as seen in an Australian avian practice

• Published in: Australian veterinary journal Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 82 - 88
• Main Author: Park, FJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-03-2011
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Wild; Australia - epidemiology; Aves; Bird Diseases - epidemiology; Bird Diseases - pathology; Birds; budgerigars; corvids; Female; Male; Prevalence; raptors; Retrospective Studies; Species Specificity; Trichomonas Infections - epidemiology; Trichomonas Infections - pathology; Trichomonas Infections - veterinary; trichomoniasis; wildlife; Australia
• ISSN: 0005-0423; 1751-0813
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2010.00681.x

Background  Studies of avian trichomoniasis in the literature are limited to some extent, often being confined to a single bird species or group of species within a bird Order. Some incidence studies have been reported for free‐living birds, and occasionally for captive birds. Very few reports describe the prevalence and types of lesions seen for a wide range of bird species, especially from a clinical perspective.
Methods  Retrospective study of avian practice records from a 10‐year period. Emphasis on the types of presentations and relative prevalence of trichomoniasis in a variety of captive and free‐living bird species encountered in Australian avian practice.
Results  The occurrence of trichomoniasis in several novel species (lorikeets, corvids and a cuckoo species), plus its distinctive presentation in southern boobook owls (Ninox boobook), is documented.
Conclusion  Trichomoniasis should be a differential diagnosis for birds presenting with regurgitation or upper gastrointestinal abscesses, even if motile trichomonads are not found in wet preparations from crop washes or lesions.