Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have been in decline throughout the southeastern US. Prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae in wild bobwhites is unknown, although T. gallinae caused morbidity and mortality in experimentally infected bobwhites. Many species of Columbidae (pigeons and doves) in Texas are hosts to T. gallinae. Bobwhites potentially may become exposed to this protozoan through supplemental feed or water sources contaminated by columbids infected with T. gallinae. All of 506 bobwhites collected in Oklahoma and Texas, 2011–13, were PCR negative for T. gallinae. These data suggest T. gallinae is not contributing to the population decline of bobwhites in this region.
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1 July 2015
Survey for Trichomonas gallinae in Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) from the Rolling Plains Ecoregion, Oklahoma and Texas, USA
Andrea Bruno,
Alan Fedynich,
Kathryn Purple,
Richard Gerhold,
Dale Rollins
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Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 51 • No. 3
July 2015
Vol. 51 • No. 3
July 2015
Colinus virginianus
northern bobwhite
Oklahoma
PCR
Rolling Plains Ecoregion
Texas
Trichomonas gallinae