DIGESTIVE TRACT PROTOZOAN PARASITISM IN DOMESTIC BIRDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO Trichomonas gallinae IN ASSAM
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Date
2019-07
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College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of protozoan
parasites inhabiting the digestive tract of domestic birds which included pigeon
(Columba livia domestica), chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), duck (Anas
platyrhynchos domesticus) and quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in the state of Assam,
India. The study was conducted for a period of two years w.e.f. April 2017 to March
2019 in 8 districts of Assam viz. Kamrup (Rural and Metro), Dhubri, Barpeta, Nalbari,
Darrang, Baksa, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. A total of 1278 pooled faecal samples and
1207 throat swabs were collected for study.
Faecal examination by floatation method for the presence or absence of oocyst of
coccidia and by Modified Ziehl- Neelsen staining and Kinyoun’s staining method for
detection of Cryptosporidium infection was carried out in domestic birds and overall
prevalence of digestive tract protozoa was recorded as 34.66%. Identified species were
Eimeria labbeana (26.35%), E. columbarum (8.69%) and E. columbae (3.53%) from
pigeon; Eimeria tenella (19.13%), E. acervulina (9.46%), E. necatrix (6.88%), E.
maxima (2.36%) and Cryptosporidium baileyi (3.01%) from chicken; Eimeria battakhi
(19.86%) from duck and Eimeria tsunodai (13.29%), E. bateri (5.69%), E. uzura
(3.16%) and Cryptosporidium meleagridis (4.43%) from quail. Season wise, highest
prevalence was recorded from pigeon in pre monsoon (58.33%) and lowest in monsoon
(27.17%); in chicken highest in monsoon (57.00%) and lowest in pre monsoon (28.69%);
in duck highest in winter (52.45%) and lowest in post monsoon (17.28%); in quail
highest prevalence was seen during monsoon (61.11%) and lowest in winter season
(14.28%). District wise, highest prevalence (80%) was recorded from Kamrup (rural and
metro) and lowest from Dhemaji (22.22%) in pigeon; in chicken highest (82.60%) from
Dhubri and lowest from Lakhimpur (28.16%); in case of duck and quail highest
prevalence was recorded from Dhubri (51.72%) in duck and (45%) in quail and lowest
percentage was recorded from Baksa (22.22%) and (17.85%) from Darrang respectively.
Observation on the prevalence of T. gallinae was done by Giemsa staining and
culture and overall prevalence was recorded as 28.91%. In pigeon, the prevalence was
recorded as high as 71.12% and in chicken it was 6.25% but T. gallinae was not recorded
from both duck and quail in natural condition. In pigeon, prevalence was found in squab
as 79.47% which was the highest. In young bird, it was 61.11% and in adult, prevalence
was 70.00%. Female birds showed a prevalence rate of 75.51% while in male, it was
66.36%. In chicken prevalence rate was 6.73% in females and 6.00% in males. Season
wise, highest number of cases (87.12%) in pigeon was recorded in winter and lowest in
monsoon (60.58%). In chicken, T. gallinae infection was recorded only in two seasons;
post monsoon showed slightly higher prevalence (15.49%) than winter (13.79%). District
wise, maximum number of positive samples (78.65%) was recorded from Kamrup (rural
and metro) in pigeon and in chicken, highest prevalence of Trichomonas infection was
reported from Baksa district (34.78%).
Comparative evaluation of direct smear (Giemsa staining) and culture methods
(Wet mount) for detection of T. gallinae revealed culture method to be sensitive and
superior to direct smear method.
Five media, viz. modified Diamond’s media, Medium199, Minimum Essential
Medium (MEM), RPMI 1640 and Nutrient broth were used for culture and maintenance
3 of T. gallinae parasite. Medium 199 showed the highest growth of organism upto
144-168 hours with motile trophozoites in comparison with other four media in the
present study.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) employed for amplification of Fe hydrogenase
gene of Trichomonas gallinae from positive cultured materials of pigeon and chicken
showed clear 290 bp band fragment. Molecular characterization of T. gallinae from
pigeon and chicken isolate of Assam in the present study showed 100% similarity with
isolates of Iran and Austria.
To determine the virulent nature of the trichomonads and its transmissibility to
different hosts, experiment was performed with or without immunosuppressive drugs in
chicken, duck, quails and mice taking pigeon as its natural host. Pigeon strain of T.
gallinae orally inoculated at concentration of 4x104 trophozoites in birds and intra
peritoneal inoculation in mice revealed presence of parasites in all bird species while
mice developed abscess which is an indicator of T. gallinae infection. Pathological
lesions like yellowish to whitish masses of caseous necrotic materials were seen in the
beak, oral cavity, oeosophagus, crop and proventriculus of pigeon and mild gross
alterations were observed in other experimental host. Histopathological alterations were
also found more in pigeon than other infected birds.
In the present study, five different drugs used for in vitro and in vivo efficacy
against T. gallinae were Flagyl 400 (Metronidazole), Ornida (Ornidazole), Tiniba 300
(Tinidazole), Sulcoprim (sulphadiazine and trimethoprim) and Vetfur-TL
(Metronidazole, Furazolidone and Loperamide). Concentration of drugs @10, 20 and 30
mg/ml for in vitro study and 20 and 30 mg/kg for in vivo study revealed 100% efficacy
of the drugs Metronidazole, Ornidazole and combination of Metronidazole, Furazolidone
and Loperamide at 30mg/ml in vitro and 30mg/kg in in vivo condition.