Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Trichomonosis in an Australian White Pigeon

Avian trichomonosis, causedby Trichomonas gallinae, a single-celled, pear-shaped protozoan, is often known as canker in doves and pigeons, and as frounce in raptors.A two-year-old Australian white pigeon presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkala with a history of open mouth breathing, watery eyes, difficulty in maintaining balance for past one week.The case was diagnosed as trichomonosis based on the history, clinical signs, lesions, and identification of the organism on wetmount preparation and stained smears of samples.The bird was successfully treated with metronidazole at the dose rate of 50 mg per kg body weight orally, twice daily for seven days.