Trichomonas gallinae facts for kids

Trichomonas gallinae is a tiny living thing called a protozoan. It is a parasite, which means it lives on or inside other living things, called hosts. This particular parasite is found all over the world, making it "cosmopolitan."

It mainly infects pigeons and doves. However, it can also affect other birds. These include domestic and wild turkeys, chickens, and even birds of prey like falcons. The sickness it causes in pigeons is often called canker. When it affects falcons, it's known as "frounce."

What is Trichomonas gallinae?

Trichomonas gallinae is a very small, single-celled organism. You would need a microscope to see it. It belongs to a group of tiny creatures called protozoa. These protozoa are not bacteria or viruses. They are more complex, like tiny animals.

How Does This Parasite Live?

This parasite lives in the upper digestive tract of birds. This includes the mouth, throat, and a special pouch called the crop. The crop is where birds store food before it goes to their stomach. T. gallinae gets its food from the bird's body. It can cause problems for the bird's health.

How Birds Get Infected

Birds usually catch Trichomonas gallinae from other infected birds. This often happens when they share food or water. For example, pigeons might drink from the same bird bath. Or they might eat food that an infected bird has touched.

Passing It On to Chicks

Parent birds can also pass the parasite to their young. This happens when the parents feed their chicks. Pigeons and doves feed their babies a special "crop milk." If the parent is infected, the parasite can be in this milk. This means the baby birds can get sick very early in life.

Other Ways of Spreading

Sometimes, birds of prey can get infected too. This happens if they eat an infected pigeon or dove. The parasite then moves from the prey bird to the bird of prey. This is a common way for falcons to get "frounce."

Signs of Sickness in Birds

When birds get infected with Trichomonas gallinae, they can show different signs. The sickness is often called canker in pigeons. It can be very serious, especially for young birds.

What Canker Looks Like

• Yellowish growths: The most common sign is yellow, cheese-like growths. These appear in the bird's mouth and throat.
• Difficulty eating: These growths can make it hard for the bird to swallow food.
• Weight loss: Because they can't eat well, infected birds often lose weight. They might look thin and weak.
• Trouble breathing: If the growths get too big, they can block the bird's windpipe. This makes it hard to breathe.
• Drooling: Birds might drool a lot because of the growths in their mouth.
• Ruffled feathers: Sick birds often look unwell, with ruffled feathers and less energy.

Why It's Dangerous

For young birds, canker can be deadly. They are not strong enough to fight off the infection. The growths can grow very fast. They can block the bird's throat completely. This means the bird cannot eat or drink.

Treating and Preventing the Disease

Vets and bird experts can treat birds infected with Trichomonas gallinae. There are special medicines that can kill the parasite. These medicines are usually given in the bird's drinking water or directly into their mouth.

Keeping Birds Healthy

• Clean water: Always provide clean, fresh water for birds. Regularly clean bird baths and water dishes.
• Clean feeders: Keep bird feeders clean to prevent the spread of parasites.
• Separate sick birds: If a bird looks sick, it should be separated from healthy birds. This stops the infection from spreading.
• Check new birds: When bringing new birds into a flock, it's a good idea to check them for parasites first.

By taking these steps, people can help keep pet birds and wild bird populations healthy.