In the early summer of 2012, sudden mass mortality among songbirds, particularly in greenfinches (Chloris chloris, syn: Carduelis chloris) was observed in Austria, which was caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. This pathogen induced fibrinonecrotic ingluvitis and/or esophagitis, leading to impairment of food intake and ultimately death due to starvation. The pathogen was successfully detected within the lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and chromogenic in situ hybridization. The epizootic resulted in a significant decline in the Austrian greenfinch population. Continuing passive surveillance in the subsequent years (2013-2020) revealed that the condition occurred each year and was present in the entire country. Genetic characterization of the pathogen showed the presence of an identical strain irrespective of geographical location, bird species, and year.

Canadian Maritime Provinces; Typhimurium Infection; Finch Trichomonosis; Mortality Events; Passerine Birds; Gallinae; Epidemic; Salmonellosis; Prevalence; Pigeonssynthetase; innate immunity; evolution; zoonoses; SARS-CoV-2; camel; bat; gene loss; gene duplication; gene family

application/pdf

Animals

14

12

10

MDPI