High Prevalence and Broad Distribution of Trichomonas gypaetinii in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the USA

Abigail J Cunningham; Kayla B Garrett; Nicole M Nemeth; Heather Barron; Iga Stasiak; Bethany Groves; Samantha E J Gibbs; Mark G Ruder; Melanie R Kunkel; Alisia A W Weyna; Xuan H Teo; Chloe Goodwin; Rebecca Radisic; Aidan O'Reilly; Liandrie Swanepoel; Christopher A Cleveland; Kate G Slankard; Michael J Yabsley

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-24-00008

High Prevalence and Broad Distribution of Trichomonas gypaetinii in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the USA

J Wildl Dis. 2024 Oct 1;60(4):1029-1032. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00008.

Authors

Abigail J Cunningham^{1

2}, Kayla B Garrett^{1

2}, Nicole M Nemeth², Heather Barron^{3

4}, Iga Stasiak⁵, Bethany Groves⁶, Samantha E J Gibbs⁷, Mark G Ruder², Melanie R Kunkel², Alisia A W Weyna^{2

8}, Xuan H Teo^{2

8}, Chloe Goodwin^{2

8}, Rebecca Radisic^{2

9}, Aidan O'Reilly², Liandrie Swanepoel², Christopher A Cleveland^{2

10}, Kate G Slankard¹¹, Michael J Yabsley^{1

2

10}

Affiliations

¹ Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green St., University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
² Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
³ Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), 3883 Sanibel Captiva Rd., Sanibel Island, Florida 33957, USA.
⁴ Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 US-1, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, USA.
⁵ Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, 112 Research Dr., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3K3, Canada.
⁶ Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), 15305 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood, Washington 98087, USA.
⁷ US Fish and Wildlife Service, 16450 NW 31 Place, Chiefland, Florida 32626, USA.
⁸ Department of Pathology, 501 D. W. Brooks Dr., College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
⁹ One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Dr., University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA.
¹⁰ Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, 203 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
¹¹ Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankford, Kentucky 40601, USA.

PMID: 38975743
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00008

Abstract

Trichomonas gypaetinii was detected in 117 (88%) of 133 Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and in 0/7 Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the USA, with no sex or age prevalence difference. All eagles lacked associated lesions. This study indicated that T. gypaetinii is common and widespread in Bald Eagles, but rarely associated with disease.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bird Diseases* / epidemiology
Bird Diseases* / parasitology
Eagles*
Female
Male
Prevalence
Trichomonas Infections* / epidemiology
Trichomonas Infections* / parasitology
Trichomonas Infections* / veterinary
Trichomonas* / isolation & purification
United States / epidemiology