title: Detection of the European epidemic strain of Trichomonas gallinae in finches, but not other non-columbiformes, in the absence of macroscopic disease.
abstract: Finch trichomonosis is an emerging infectious disease affecting European passerines caused by a clonal strain of Trichomonas gallinae. Migrating chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) were proposed as the likely vector of parasite spread from Great Britain to Fennoscandia. To test for such parasite carriage, we screened samples of oesophagus/crop from 275 Apodiform, Passeriform and Piciform birds (40 species) which had no macroscopic evidence of trichomonosis (i.e. necrotic ingluvitis). These birds were found dead following the emergence of trichomonosis in Great Britain, 2009-2012, and were examined post-mortem. Polymerase chain reactions were used to detect (ITS1/5·8S rRNA/ITS2 region and single subunit rRNA gene) and to subtype (Fe-hydrogenase gene) T. gallinae. Trichomonas gallinae was detected in six finches [three chaffinches, two greenfinches (Chloris chloris) and a bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)]. Sequence data had 100% identity to the European finch epidemic A1 strain for each species. While these results are consistent with finches being vectors of T. gallinae, alternative explanations include the presence of incubating or resolved T. gallinae infections. The inclusion of histopathological examination would help elucidate the significance of T. gallinae infection in the absence of macroscopic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Erasmus K H J
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Zu Ermgassen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durrant
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Shinto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia,School of Biological Sciences,Norwich NR4 7TJ,UK.
authors.forename: Abdulwahed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alrefaei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology,Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,London NW1 4RY,UK.
authors.forename: Becki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004947:Esophagus / Q000469:parasitology; D046369:Finches / Q000469:parasitology*; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014244:Trichomonas / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: emerging infectious disease; epidemiology; passerine; trichomonosis; wild bird