Department of Animal and Health Production, Public Health and Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Calle Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46115, Alfara del Patriarca, Spain.
Department of Animal Production and Public Health, Faculty of Experimental and Veterinary Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, Calle Guillem de Castro, 94, 46003, Valencia, Spain.
Vet Parasitol. 2020 Jul;283:109196. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109196. Epub 2020 Jul 23.
Avian trichomonosis is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellated protozoan Trichomonas gallinae. Columbiformes are the reservoir host of the parasite, with high levels of infection, but also other domestic and wild birds from a variety of orders are susceptible to the infection and development of gross lesions. In this paper we describe the type and severity of lesions in wild birds in four avian orders (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes and Columbiformes). A total of 94 clinical cases diagnosed of trichomonosis were selected for the categorization of their lesions in the upper digestive tract. The affected birds were classified into three different categories (mild, moderate and severe) based on size (in relation to the tracheal opening), depth and location of the lesions. Mild cases are those with small and superficial lesions far from the oropharyngeal opening; moderate cases possess larger and deeper lesions, and severe cases very large and deep lesions that impede swallowing or affect the skull. Mild lesions were found in 10.6 % of cases; moderate lesions were observed in 18.1 % of the birds and severe lesions in 71.3 %. Treatment outcomes in birds with either mild or moderate lesions were favorable, while severe lesions were related to poor body score, leading to death or euthanasia in most cases. A relationship between severe lesions and avian order was found, with a higher percentage of birds with this type in Falconiformes, Columbiformes and Strigiformes. Multifocal lesions were more frequent in Columbiformes and Falconiformes. In Strigiformes, 93.3 % of birds showed lesions in the upper jaw. This study seeks to further understanding of avian trichomonosis and to provide information that will be useful to veterinarians and related professionals for assessment, prognosis and treatment choice for these birds.
禽类滴虫病是由鞭毛原生动物鸡滴虫引起的寄生虫病。雀形目鸟类是寄生虫的储存宿主，感染率很高，但其他来自多个目科的家养和野生鸟类也容易感染，并出现明显的病变。本文描述了在 4 个鸟类目科（鹰形目、隼形目、鸮形目和雀形目）中野生鸟类的病变类型和严重程度。总共选择了 94 例临床诊断为滴虫病的病例，对其上消化道病变进行分类。根据病变的大小（与气管开口的关系）、深度和位置，将受影响的鸟类分为轻度、中度和重度 3 种不同类别。轻度病例是指远离口咽部的小而浅表的病变；中度病例具有较大且较深的病变，重度病例则是非常大且深的病变，会妨碍吞咽或影响颅骨。轻度病变占 10.6%；中度病变占 18.1%，重度病变占 71.3%。轻度或中度病变的鸟类治疗效果良好，而重度病变与鸟类的身体评分较差相关，导致大多数情况下死亡或安乐死。严重病变与鸟类目科之间存在相关性，隼形目、雀形目和鸮形目鸟类中这种类型的比例较高。多灶性病变在雀形目和隼形目中更为常见。在鸮形目中，93.3%的鸟类上颌出现病变。本研究旨在进一步了解禽类滴虫病，并为兽医和相关专业人员提供有用的信息，用于评估、预后和治疗这些鸟类。
