title: Trichomonas stableri n. sp., an agent of trichomonosis in Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis).
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.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
authors.forename: Yvette A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Investigations Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, United States.
authors.forename: Krysta H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerhold
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States.
authors.forename: Kirkwood M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Land
authors.affiliation: Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lenaghan
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
authors.forename: Leslie W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haberkern
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, United States.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.affiliation: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Monterey, CA 93940, United States.
authors.forename: Jeff D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cann
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
authors.forename: Christine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Johnson
keywords: Avian trichomonosis; Band-tailed pigeon; Columbidae; Fe-hydrogenase; ITS1/5.8S/ITS2; Phylogeny; Trichomonas gallinae; rpb1