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Sigrist B, Ng TWC, Albini S, Wolfrum N. A new duplex real-time PCR for simultaneous detection and differentiation of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Trichomonas gallinae. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022; 34:631-637. [PMID: 35593583 DOI: 10.1177/10406387221098069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Trichomonas gallinae are pathogenic avian parasites that infect a wide range of bird species. The pathologic potential of T. gallinarum is controversial, whereas T. gallinae causes disease in many avian species. Infections are often asymptomatic in doves and pigeons; thus, columbids are presumed to represent the natural hosts for trichomonads. The detection of T. gallinarum and T. gallinae is based on direct microscopic observation or a conventional PCR assay. Microscopy is not very sensitive, and identification of the trichomonads at the genus or species level is not possible. Conventional PCR assays have been developed primarily for phylogenetic studies, which detect a wide range of Trichomonas spp. but do not allow their differentiation. We developed a duplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of T. gallinarum and T. gallinae. We found that the rtPCR assay detected 102 plasmid DNA copies of T. gallinarum and as few as 101 plasmid DNA copies of T. gallinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Sigrist
- Department of Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - T W Cherry Ng
- Department of Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Albini
- Department of Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nina Wolfrum
- Department of Poultry and Rabbit Diseases, Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Trichomonosis in Austrian Songbirds—Geographic Distribution, Pathological Lesions and Genetic Characterization over Nine Years. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101306. [PMID: 35625152 PMCID: PMC9137778 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the early summer of 2012, sudden mass mortality among songbirds, particularly in greenfinches (Chloris chloris, syn: Carduelis chloris) was observed in Austria, which was caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. This pathogen induced fibrinonecrotic ingluvitis and/or esophagitis, leading to impairment of food intake and ultimately death due to starvation. The pathogen was successfully detected within the lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and chromogenic in situ hybridization. The epizootic resulted in a significant decline in the Austrian greenfinch population. Continuing passive surveillance in the subsequent years (2013–2020) revealed that the condition occurred each year and was present in the entire country. Genetic characterization of the pathogen showed the presence of an identical strain irrespective of geographical location, bird species, and year.
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Ji F, Zhang D, Shao Y, Yu X, Liu X, Shan D, Wang Z. Changes in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in pigeon squabs infected with Trichomonas gallinae. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19978. [PMID: 33203893 PMCID: PMC7673032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76821-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigeons, as the only altricial birds in poultry, are the primary Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae) host. To study the effects of T. gallinae infection on gut microbiota, we compared the microbiota diversity and composition in gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of pigeons at the age of 14 and 21 day with different degrees of T. gallinae infection. Thirty-six nestling pigeons were divided into three groups: the healthy group, low-grade and high-grade trichomonosis group. Then, the crop, small intestine and rectum contents were obtained for sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 hypervariable region. The results showed that the microbiota diversity was higher in crop than in small intestine and rectum, and the abundance of Lactobacillus genus was dominant in small intestine and rectum of healthy pigeons at 21 days. T. gallinae infection decreased the microbiota richness in crop at 14 days. The abundance of the Firmicutes phylum and Lactobacillus genus in small intestine of birds at 21 days were decreased by infection, however the abundances of Proteobacteria phylum and Enterococcus, Atopobium, Roseburia, Aeriscardovia and Peptostreptococcus genus increased. The above results indicated that crop had the highest microbiota diversity among GI tract of pigeons, and the gut microbiota diversity and composition of pigeon squabs were altered by T. gallinae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Ji
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongyan Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Shao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Yu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyong Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dacong Shan
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zheng Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Rijks JM, Laumen AAG, Slaterus R, Stahl J, Gröne A, Kik ML. Trichomonosis in Greenfinches ( Chloris chloris) in the Netherlands 2009-2017: A Concealed Threat. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:425. [PMID: 31850382 PMCID: PMC6896826 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Finch trichomonosis in Europe is caused by a Trichomonas gallinae subtype A1 strain, considered to be clonal because lacking genetic heterogeneity in partial genotyping. The disease recently emerged and has been associated with a 66% reduction of the British breeding greenfinch (Chloris chloris) population. In contrast, in the Netherlands, where trichomonosis was detected in 2009, the breeding greenfinch population continued to grow in subsequent years. This study aimed to elucidate whether this discrepancy in population trends is because Trichomonas infection in Dutch greenfinches is associated with less severe disease, i.e., disease being less fatal. Therefore, it characterized and quantified trichomonosis in a convenience sample of greenfinches found dead and examined post-mortem between 2009 and 2017 and compared results to published data from Great Britain. Trichomonads were detected by cytology, histology, or culture in 95/101 greenfinches. The birds with trichomonads all had microscopic lesions in the upper digestive tract consistent with trichomonosis, indicating the trichomonads caused disease. The occurrence of significant lesions due to other causes was low. Some greenfinches with trichomonosis showed no macroscopic lesions. These birds showed significantly less ulceration of the mucosa and less extensive heterophil infiltration, but extent of macrophage infiltration and presence of bacteria was similar to that of birds with macroscopic lesions, and significant lesions due to other causes were equally rare. Therefore, trichomonosis was considered similarly fatal in both groups. The frequency of fatal trichomonosis in the Dutch greenfinches did not differ significantly from that reported from Great Britain. Partial genotyping of the ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 and Fe-hydrogenase regions of T. gallinae was performed to detect genetic heterogeneity, that could indicate the presence of other, possibly less virulent, strains. In 60/63 samples there was full alignment of sequences with the clonal strain of T. gallinae subtype A1. The remaining three samples had the same single synonymous nucleotide difference in the Fe-hydrogenase region; however, pathology is these three was identical to the others. Collectively, the results provide no clear evidence for less severe disease as explanation for the discrepancy in census data trends. We conclude that trichomonosis is a threat concealed in Dutch breeding greenfinch census data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolianne M Rijks
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Andrea A G Laumen
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roy Slaterus
- Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology (Sovon), Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Julia Stahl
- Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology (Sovon), Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Andrea Gröne
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Pathology Division, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marja L Kik
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Pathology Division, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Chavatte JM, Giraud P, Esperet D, Place G, Cavalier F, Landau I. An outbreak of trichomonosis in European greenfinches Chloris chloris and European goldfinches Carduelis carduelis wintering in Northern France. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 26:21. [PMID: 30957740 PMCID: PMC6452646 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2019022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Avian trichomonosis is a common and widespread disease, traditionally affecting columbids and raptors, and recently emerging among finch populations mainly in Europe. Across Europe, finch trichomonosis is caused by a single clonal strain of Trichomonas gallinae and negatively impacts finch populations. Here, we report an outbreak of finch trichomonosis in the wintering populations of Chloris chloris (European greenfinch) and Carduelis carduelis (European goldfinch) from the Boulonnais, in northern France. The outbreak was detected and monitored by bird ringers during their wintering bird ringing protocols. A total of 105 records from 12 sites were collected during the first quarter of 2017, with 46 and 59 concerning dead and diseased birds, respectively. Fourteen carcasses from two locations were necropsied and screened for multiple pathogens; the only causative agent identified was T. gallinae. Genetic characterization was performed by four markers (small subunit ribosomal RNA, hydrogenosomal iron-hydrogenase, and RNA polymerase II subunit 1 genes, and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region) and confirmed the T. gallinae strain to be A1, which affects the finch populations of Europe. This was also confirmed by an ITS-based phylogenetic analysis which further illustrated the diversity of the Trichomonas infecting birds. Preliminary data on the survival and dispersion of infected birds were obtained from ring-returns of diseased individuals. The anthropogenic spread of diseases through bird feeding practices is highlighted and some suggestions to prevent pathogen transmission via backyard supplementary feeders for garden birds are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Chavatte
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 61 rue Buffon, CP52, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France - Cap-Ornis Baguage, 10 Rue de la Maladrerie, 59181 Steenwerck, France
| | - Philippe Giraud
- Laboratoire Départemental d'Analyse du Pas-de-Calais (LDA 62), 2 Rue du Genévrier, SP18, 62022 Arras Cedex, France
| | - Delphine Esperet
- Laboratoire Labéo Manche, 1352 Avenue de Paris, CS 33608, 50008 Saint-Lô Cedex, France
| | - Grégory Place
- Cap-Ornis Baguage, 10 Rue de la Maladrerie, 59181 Steenwerck, France
| | - François Cavalier
- Cap-Ornis Baguage, 10 Rue de la Maladrerie, 59181 Steenwerck, France
| | - Irène Landau
- UMR 7245 MCAM MNHN CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 61 rue Buffon, CP52, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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Zadravec M, Slavec B, Krapež U, Gombač M, Švara T, Poljšak-Prijatelj M, Gruntar I, Račnik J. Trichomonosis outbreak in a flock of canaries (Serinus canaria f. domestica) caused by a finch epidemic strain of Trichomonas gallinae. Vet Parasitol 2017; 239:90-93. [PMID: 28413077 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In the present paper, an outbreak of trichomonosis in a flock of 15 breeding pairs of canaries is described. Trichomonosis was diagnosed on characteristic clinical signs, microscopic examination of crop/esophageal swabs, gross pathology and histopathology. Trichomonads were successfully grown in culture media and were characterized by multi-locus sequence typing. The three genomic loci ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, 18S rRNA and Fe-hydrogenase were analyzed. Molecular characterization confirmed the finch trichomonosis strain, identical to the strain that caused emerging disease in free-living passerine birds in Europe. Flock treatment with metronidazole (200mg/L) in drinking water for 5days was partially effective. After individual treatment with oral application of metronidazole (20mg/kg SID) for 5days no further clinical signs were observed in the flock over next 30 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Zadravec
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Brigita Slavec
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Uroš Krapež
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Mitja Gombač
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Wildlife, Fish and Bees, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Tanja Švara
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Pathology, Wildlife, Fish and Bees, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Mateja Poljšak-Prijatelj
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Igor Gruntar
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Joško Račnik
- Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Dual-pathogen etiology of avian trichomonosis in a declining band-tailed pigeon population. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 24:146-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abstract
Members of the family Trichomonadidae, mainly Trichomonas gallinae and Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, represent important parasites in birds with worldwide presence, since being reported in the 19th century. Especially Columbiformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes can be severely affected by trichomonads, whereas the majority of infections in Galliformes and Anatiformes are subclinical although severe infections are occasionally reported. With the recent appearance of deadly infections in wild Passeriformes the protozoan parasite T. gallinae obtained greater attention which will be addressed in this review. Although light microscopy remains the method of choice to confirm the presence of trichomonads molecular studies were introduced in recent years, in order to characterize the parasites and to establish relationships between isolates. Isolation of trichomonads is a prerequisite for detailed in vitro and in vivo studies and different media are reported to obtain suitable material. The limited information about virulence factors will be reviewed in context with the pathogenicity of trichomonads which varies greatly, indicating certain strain heterogeneity of the parasites. Options for treatment characterized by the leading role of imidazoles whose activity is sometimes hampered by resistant parasites remains a challenge for the future. Introducing more standardized genetic studies and investigations concentrating on the host-pathogen interaction should be helpful to elucidate virulence factors which might lead to new concepts of treatment.
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Girard YA, Rogers KH, Gerhold R, Land KM, Lenaghan SC, Woods LW, Haberkern N, Hopper M, Cann JD, Johnson CK. Trichomonas stableri n. sp., an agent of trichomonosis in Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2013; 3:32-40. [PMID: 24918075 PMCID: PMC4047957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trichomonad protozoa infecting free-ranging band-tailed pigeons were characterized. Trichomonas gallinae and novel species T. stableri were isolated in sick birds. T. stableri is significantly smaller in length and width than T. gallinae. T. stableri is genetically more similar to T. vaginalis than to T. gallinae. T. stableri is a secondary agent of trichomonosis in band-tailed pigeons.
Trichomonas gallinae is a ubiquitous flagellated protozoan parasite, and the most common etiologic agent of epidemic trichomonosis in columbid and passerine species. In this study, free-ranging Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) in California (USA) were found to be infected with trichomonad protozoa that were genetically and morphologically distinct from T. gallinae. In microscopic analysis, protozoa were significantly smaller in length and width than T. gallinae and were bimodal in morphology. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1/5.8S/ITS2, rpb1, and hydrogenosomal Fe-hydrogenase regions revealed that the protozoan shares an ancestor with Trichomonas vaginalis, the sexually-transmitted agent of trichomoniasis in humans. Clinical and pathologic features of infected birds were similar to infections with T. gallinae. Evidence presented here strongly support taxonomical distinction of this parasite, which we hereby name Trichomonas stableri n. sp. This work contributes to a growing body of evidence that T. gallinae is not the sole etiologic agent of avian trichomonosis, and that the incorporation of molecular tools is critical in the investigation of infectious causes of mortality in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette A Girard
- Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Krysta H Rogers
- Wildlife Investigations Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, United States
| | - Richard Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Kirkwood M Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States
| | - Scott C Lenaghan
- Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Leslie W Woods
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Nathan Haberkern
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States
| | - Melissa Hopper
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States
| | - Jeff D Cann
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Monterey, CA 93940, United States
| | - Christine K Johnson
- Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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Multi-locus sequence typing confirms the clonality ofTrichomonas gallinaeisolates circulating in European finches. Parasitology 2013; 141:652-61. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013002023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYIn recent years,Trichomonas gallinaeemerged as the causative agent of an infectious disease of passerine birds in Europe leading to epidemic mortality of especially greenfinchesChloris chlorisand chaffinchesFringilla coelebs. After the appearance of finch trichomonosis in the UK and Fennoscandia, the disease spread to Central Europe. Finch trichomonosis first reached Austria and Slovenia in 2012. In the present study the genetic heterogeneity ofT. gallinaeisolates from incidents in Austria and Slovenia were investigated and compared with British isolates. For this purpose comparative sequence analyses of the four genomic loci ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, 18S rRNA,rpb1and Fe-hydrogenase were performed. The results corroborate that one clonalT. gallinaestrain caused the emerging infectious disease within passerine birds and that the disease is continuing to spread in Europe. The same clonal strain was also found in a columbid bird from Austria. Additionally, the present study demonstrates clearly the importance of multi-locus sequence typing for discrimination of circulatingT. gallinaestrains.
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