Embedded Files
Research Team
Research Team
Savannah Higley
Savannah Higley
Zoology
Ashley Love, Ph.D
Ashley Love, Ph.D
Department of Biology
Introduction
Introduction
Trichomonas gallinae is a parasite that infects birds. In raptors it causes thick, cheesy plaques inside the mouth. These plaques cause necrotic lesions in the soft tissue of the head. These lesions can also spread to the ocular cavity and the liver, causing potentially fatal injuries (Gerhold, 2024).
Avian malaria is a disease caused by a group of blood parasites in birds. These parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon) infect blood cells and can cause anemia and sometimes be fatal in birds.
Both parasites cause immune stress to the birds and there is potential for concurrent infections (co-infection).
Objective: Determine the frequency of parasite co-infection in Ohio raptors and examine the effects infection has on the immune system.
Methods
Methods
Swab the mouth of the bird with a sterile cotton swab. Take blood via the brachial vein. Blood is smeared onto slides which are then stained. Stained slides are analyzed under microcscope. visual survey for parasites and a white lood cell counts. swabs and blood in ethanol have dna extracted, then a PCR and gel electrophoresis is ran.
Results/Findings and Discussion
Results/Findings and Discussion
Figure 1. Parasite infections per species. Note “Coinfected” refers to individuals that presented with simultaneous infections of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, which were the only co-infections found in this study. All 7 sampled COHA were uninfected. 2 out of the 3 NSWO were infected with Leucocytozoon, with 1 individual uninfected. 2 out of the 3 GHOW were coinfected, with 1 uninfected individual.
Figure 2. Relative white blood cell counts among raptor species. Shown are the counts of lymphocytes, heterophils, and eosinophils. Eosinophils varied by species (GLM: χ2 = 17.61, DF=2, p = 0.0001). Specifically, Great Horned Owls had higher eosinophil counts than the two other species (all p ≤ 0.005). Heterophils also varied by species (GLM: χ2= 20.234, DF=2, p < 0.00001), where GHOW had lower heterophil counts than the two other species (all p ≤ 0.01).
Conclusions and Future Study
Conclusions and Future Study
Conclusions
• Raptor species differed in parasite prevalence and immunity.
• Cooper’s Hawks, despite having the highest sample size, did not have any parasites.
• Owls were commonly infected with blood parasites.
• Great Horned Owls were the only individuals co-infected with more than one parasite and had higher eosinophil levels and lower heterophil counts compared to other raptor species.
• Eosinophils are immune cells that play an important role in combating parasites.
• Heterophils are important in early responses to infection and increase in response to physiological stress.
Future Study
I would like to expand my study to more species. Not just raptors but also fringillids (finches) and columbids (pigeons and doves) which are also frequently infected with Trichomonas
The following is an image of poster presented at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Forum
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the Glen Helen Raptor Center for allowing me access to their birds for sampling. Find out more about the raptor center here: https://glenhelen.org/raptor-center/
References
References
Gerhold, R. W. (2024, December). Trichomonosis in birds - exotic and laboratory animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/trichomonosis/trichomonosis-in-birds
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
Establish, maintain, and/or leverage relationships with people who can help one professionally.
Display curiosity; seek out opportunities to learn.
Identify areas for continual growth while pursuing and applying feedback.
Page updated
Report abuse