Trichomonosis

Trichomonosis (Trichomonas columbae) is a very contagious disease and very frequent in pigeon lofts. It is caused by a protozoan parasite, nestling in the struma of the pigeon, giving to other infections an opportunity to infiltrate. Therefore it can also be called ‘the mother of many other diseases’.

In case of a light infection we can only see a loss of condition and an overproduction of mucus. But in case of a serious infection we can see respiratory problems with a yellow tumour in the throat.

Young pigeons in the nest can also have an infection of the navel leading to irreversible damage to the liver. In contrary to coccidiosis, the pigeon can not build up any immunity response against this parasite and therefore has to be treated always.

There are three infection ways by which the disease is being transmitted:

• young pigeons fed by their infected parents,
• direct contact with infected pigeons (during transport),
• drinking of infected shared water.