The raptor Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango) (Aves: Falconiformes) - A new host for Trichomonas gallinae (protozoa: Trichomonadidae)

Abstract

This work describes a specimen of Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango - Vieillot, 1816), from southern Brazil, as a new natural host for Trichomonas gallinae (Rivolta, 1878). Caseous oral lesions were observed in a young bird, and the parasite was isolated in modified Diamond’s media. Morphology of the parasite was evaluated through microscopy and subsequently, sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of ribosomal DNA was performed to confirm T. gallinae identification. As far as authors are concerned, this is the first report of Milvago chimango as a natural host for T. gallinae. Keywords: Raptors, Falcons, Trichomonosis, Avian diseases