Trichomonas gallinae

Trichomonas gallinae
Greenfinch suffering from 'fat finch disease' ("Trichomonas gallinae")
Greenfinch suffering 'fat finch disease' (Trichomonas gallinae)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Metamonada
Order: Trichomonadida
Family: Trichomonadidae
Genus: Trichomonas
Species:
T. gallinae
Binomial name
Trichomonas gallinae
(Rivolta, 1878)

Trichomonas gallinae is a cosmopolitan parasite of birds including finches, pigeons, doves, turkeys, chickens, parrots, and raptors (hawks, golden eagle, etc.). The condition in birds of prey is called frounce.[1] It is believed to be an ancient pathogen causing frounce-like symptoms in theropod dinosaurs.[2] The same condition in pigeons is commonly called canker.

The protozoa are small (5 to 20 μm size) oval or spherical flagellates with four free flagella found on the anterior aspect of the parasite. They also have an axostyle found on the posterior end as well as an undulating membrane on one side.[3] An important diagnostic feature is the lack of a free posterior flagellum.

  1. ^ Kennedy, Murry J. "Trichomoniasis in Birds" Food Safety Division, Alberta Agriculture and Food. http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4444
  2. ^ Wolff, E.D.S.; Salisbury, S.W.; Horner J.R. & Varricchio D.J. (2009). Hansen, Dennis Marinus (ed.). "Common Avian Infection Plagued the Tyrant Dinosaurs". PLOS ONE. 4 (9): e7288. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.7288W. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007288. PMC 2748709. PMID 19789646.
  3. ^ Wernery, Ulrich, Wencel, Peter (2016). Avian Medicine (Third ed.).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)