The finch epidemic strain of Trichomonas gallinae is predominant in British non-passerines.
Avian trichomonosis, caused by the flagellated protozoan Trichomonas gallinae, is a recently emerged infectious disease of British passerines. The aetiological agent, a clonal epidemic strain of the parasite, has caused unprecedented finch mortality and population-level declines in Britain and has since spread to continental Europe. To better understand the potential origin of this epidemic and to further investigate its host range, T. gallinae DNA extracts were collected from parasite culture and tissue samples from a range of avian species in Britain. Sequence typing at the ITS1/5.8S rRNA/ITS2 region resolved three distinct ITS region types circulating in free-ranging British birds. Subtyping by sequence analyses at the Fe-hydrogenase gene demonstrated further strain variation within these ITS region types. The UK finch epidemic strain was preponderant amongst columbids sampled, however, wide strain diversity was encountered in isolates from a relatively small number of pigeons, suggesting further strains present in columbid populations across the UK are yet to be identified. Fe-hydrogenase gene sequence data in isolates from birds of prey with disease were predominantly identical to the UK finch epidemic strain, demonstrating its presence as a virulent strain in UK birds of prey since at least 2009.
University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Jean F
JF
Chi
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
Becki
B
Lawson
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
Chris
C
Durrant
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
Katie
K
Beckmann
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
Shinto
S
John
University of East Anglia, School of Biological Sciences, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Abdulwahed F
AF
Alrefaei
Hawk Conservancy Trust, Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover SP11 8DY, UK.
Kim
K
Kirkbride
University of East Anglia, School of Biological Sciences, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Diana J
DJ
Bell
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
Andrew A
AA
Cunningham
Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
Kevin M
KM
Tyler
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D046369:Finches / Q000469:parasitology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D058507:Host Specificity; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D014244:Trichomonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom
D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; C118830:iron hydrogenase; D006864:Hydrogenase