First reported case of Trichomonas gallinae infection in red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus)

Abstract

This study reports the infection and diagnosis of the protozoan morphologic complex Trichomonas gallinae in a baby red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus). Nodular lesions on the soft palate and edema in the oral cavity were observed macroscopically. Microscopically, a granuloma with multiple layers of necrosis interspersed with inflammatory polymorphonuclear infiltrates was observed. Parasitism was confirmed by parasitological diagnosis, isolation of the flagellates in culture medium, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using 5.8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Flanking internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and the sequences were analyzed phylogenetically using MEGA 11 software. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS1/5.8S rRNA/ITS2 sequences demonstrated high nucleotide identity with two Trichomonas sequences available in GenBank, which were more closely related to T. vaginalis (99%) than to T. gallinae (98%). In addition to being potential transmitters of this protozoan, rigorous monitoring of infectious and parasitic diseases in wild bird populations is essential for their preservation. The forms of transmission of Trichomonas sp. favor the occurrence of the disease in many non-Columbiformes species, which is essential for the monitoring of this disease in wild birds.

Keywords: Molecular analysis; PCR; Phylogeny; Ramphastidae; Trichomonadidae; Wild birds.