First Report of Establishment of Trypanosoma evansi Infection in Pigeon Nestlings (Columba livia)

Abstract

Trypanosomosis (surra) caused by Trypanosoma evansi is quite common among horses where the parasite is endemic. In the present study, T. evansi was isolated from an infected horse and maintained by subinoculation in Swiss albino mice. At the peak of parasitemia (5 x 10(6) parasites per ml of blood), 0.25 ml of the tail blood from infected mice was inoculated intraperitoneally and subcutaneously to 2 groups of adult pigeons and 2 groups of pigeon nestlings. Four days after inoculation, the trypanosomes occurred in the peripheral circulation of pigeon nestlings, but no parasitemia was observed in adult pigeons. The body temperatures of infected nestlings increased to 104 F, whereas uninfected controls remained steady at 102 F; thus, elevated temperatures coincided with parasite presence in the peripheral circulation. A decrease in hemoglobin concentration of blood also was observed in infected nestlings. On microscopic examination, increases in length and breadth of trypomastigotes and vigorous flagellar movement of the parasites were observed. The virulence and pathogenicity of the parasites after adaptation to nestlings remained unchanged for albino mice as proved by the death of all subinoculated mice. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction studies confirmed that the genomic DNA of trypanosomes in pigeon blood was the same as that of T. evansi. This is the first report of the establishment of T. evansi infection in pigeon nestlings.

Melanin-based plumage ornamentation signals condition and physiological stress in the Black-headed Gull

“…Haemoglobin concentration is a basic measure of the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, which has been demonstrated to reflect diet quality and to correlate with general condition in a wide spectrum of bird species (reviewed in Minias 2015). Blood haemoglobin concentration was also negatively associated with infestation rates of different parasites, including hematozoans (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozooan, Plasmodium, and Trypanosoma) (Sergent et al 2004;Mandal et al 2008;Krams et al 2013), gastrointestinal helminths (Mazur et al 2007), ticks (Norte et al 2013), and parasitic arthropods (e.g. Fessl et al 2006;Słomczyński et al 2006).…”

Trypanosoma evansiand Surra: A Review and Perspectives on Origin, History, Distribution, Taxonomy, Morphology, Hosts, and Pathogenic Effects

“…T. evansi was recently observed in Asian rhinoceros ( Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis ) in Malaysia [94] and in the Himalayan black bear ( Selenarctos thibetanus) [95]. It has even been reported in chickens, but this single observation needs to be confirmed [96]; however the experimental infection of chicks has been demonstrated for a long time [48] and that of young pigeons more recently [97]. …”

The use of haemoglobin concentrations to assess physiological condition in birds: a review

“… Haemoproteus , Plasmodium , Leucocytozoon − Krams et al (2013) Feral pigeon C. livia f. domestica* COL Pull. Trypanosoma evansi − Mandal et al (2008) Abbreviations: Ad., adult; CHA, Charadriiformes; COL, Columbiformes; GAL, Galliformes; Juv., juvenile; PAS, Passeriformes; Pull., pullus; SPH, Sphenisciformes. Studies conducted in captivity are marked with an asterisk.…”