Trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas columbae. It is a single-celled organism that lives in the digestive tract of pigeons, especially in the throat and crop. The microbe is sensitive to the external environment, surviving only a few minutes outside the pigeon's body. This helps control the disease and means that the bird cannot get infected from the loft or the environment as happens with other diseases (worms or salmonellosis). The trichomonad organism requires contact between birds to spread from one bird to another, usually being transmitted through saliva or crop milk. Saliva contaminates food and water. When the pigeon drinks, the microorganism is released through its beak, and when another pigeon comes to drink water, it also ingests the trichomonad organism. When a pigeon forages for food, every grain it touches is infected with this microorganism, which then automatically transmits to the next pigeon. The disease is also transmitted by beak-to-beak contact with an infected pigeon or when parents feed their young.
The stress of races will put any immune system to the test. Depending on the degree of stress, trichomonad levels rise and fall. When levels are high, the pigeon can also develop secondary infections, especially respiratory infections, which will compromise performance in races. A toxin is also produced that will make the bird feel unwell. Birds with high trichomonad levels are said to have "wet trichomoniasis." The signs of the disease are subtle and varied.
In most pigeons, both adult and young, that are not regularly treated against trichomoniasis, latent pathogens (trichomonads) may be present. This can present major problems right from the nest, with young birds having yellow patches stuck at the back of their throat.
In adult pigeons, in combination with the ornithosis complex, it can lead to serious complications. Even if pigeons have "natural" immunity against trichomoniasis, in autumn, large and sudden outbreaks of this disease can occur, in some cases even leading to death.
-Loss of condition
-Impaired digestion
-Atypical droppings
-Mucosal inflammation
-Complications with ornithosis
-Yellow spots in the throat
Medication:
- Ambronil
- Carnix