title: Survey for Trichomonas gallinae in Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) from the Rolling Plains Ecoregion, Oklahoma and Texas, USA.
abstract: Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have been in decline throughout the southeastern US. Prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae in wild bobwhites is unknown, although T. gallinae caused morbidity and mortality in experimentally infected bobwhites. Many species of Columbidae (pigeons and doves) in Texas are hosts to T. gallinae. Bobwhites potentially may become exposed to this protozoan through supplemental feed or water sources contaminated by columbids infected with T. gallinae. All of 506 bobwhites collected in Oklahoma and Texas, 2011-13, were PCR negative for T. gallinae. These data suggest T. gallinae is not contributing to the population decline of bobwhites in this region.
authors.affiliation: 1  Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd. MSC 218, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: 1  Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd. MSC 218, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedynich
authors.affiliation: 2  Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Dr., Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Purple
authors.affiliation: 2  Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Dr., Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerhold
authors.affiliation: 3  The Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, PO Box 61517, San Angelo, Texas 76901, USA.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rollins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003088:Colinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014244:Trichomonas; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Colinus virginianus; Northern Bobwhite; Oklahoma; PCR; Rolling Plains Ecoregion; Texas; Trichomonas gallinae; trichomonosis