Trichomonas stableri n. sp., an agent of trichomonosis in Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis)

Authors

Yvette A. Girard, University of California, DavisFollow
Krysta H. Rogers, California Department of Fish and WildlifeFollow
Richard Gerhold, University of TennesseeFollow
Kirkwood M. Land, University of the PacificFollow
Scott C. Lenaghan, University of TennesseeFollow
Leslie W. Woods, University of California, DavisFollow
Nathan Haberkern, University of the PacificFollow
Melissa Hopper, University of the PacificFollow
Jeff D. Cann, California Department of Fish and WildlifeFollow
Christine K. Johnson, University of California, DavisFollow

ORCID

Kirkwood M. Land: 0000-0001-5951-9630

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

Department

Biological Sciences

ISSN

2213-2244

Volume

3

Issue

1

DOI

10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.12.002

First Page

32

Last Page

40

Publication Date

4-1-2014

Abstract

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.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Girard, Y. A., Rogers, K. H., Gerhold, R., Land, K. M., Lenaghan, S. C., Woods, L. W., Haberkern, N., Hopper, M., Cann, J. D., & Johnson, C. K. (2014). Trichomonas stableri n. sp., an agent of trichomonosis in Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis). International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 3(1), 32–40. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.12.002
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/cop-facarticles/789