Trichomonosis: an Emerging Disease in Canadian Maritime Wild Finch Populations and a Welfare Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TRICHOMONOSIS: AN EMERGING DISEASE IN CANADIAN MARITIME WILD FINCH POPULATIONS AND A WELFARE ISSUE BY WHITNEY K KELLY-CLARK A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Pathology and Microbiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Prince Edward Island © AUGUST 2012. WK KELLY-CLARK i The author has agreed that the Library, University of Prince Edward Island, may make this thesis freely available for inspection. Moreover, the author has agreed that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised the thesis work recorded herein or, in their absence, by the Chair of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty in which the thesis work was done. It is understood that due recognition will be given to the author of this thesis and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any use of the material in this thesis. Copying or publication or any other use of the thesis for financial gain without approval by the University of Prince Edward Island and the author’s written permission is prohibited. Requests for permission to copy or to make any other use of material in this thesis in whole or in part should be addressed to: Chair of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown, PEI Canada, C1A 4P3 ii Title of Thesis: Trichomonosis: an emerging disease in Canadian maritime wild finch populations and a welfare issue Name of Author: Whitney K Kelly-Clark Department: Pathology and Microbiology Degree: Master of Science Year 2012 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis work, or, in their absence, by the Char of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis. Signature: Address: Date: iii University of Prince Edward Island Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Charlottetown CERTIFICATION OF THESIS WORK We, the undersigned, certify that Whitney K Kelly-Clark, B.Sc (Hon), candidate for the degree of Master of Science has presented his thesis with the following title: TRICHOMONOSIS: AN EMERGING DISEASE IN CANADIAN MARITIME WILD FINCH POPULATIONS AND A WELFARE ISSUE that the thesis is acceptable in form and content, and that satisfactory knowledge of the field covered by the thesis was demonstrated by the candidate through an oral examination held on _______________. Examiners’ Names Examiners’ Signatures NAME ___________________________________________ NAME ___________________________________________ NAME ___________________________________________ NAME ___________________________________________ NAME ___________________________________________ Date: ___________ iv ABSTRACT In 2005, trichomonosis emerged as a new cause of substantial mortality in United Kingdom (UK) greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) and chaffinch (Fringella coelebs) populations. Similar to the UK, in the summer and fall of 2007–2009 and 2011, mortalities due to trichomonosis occurred in the Canadian Maritime provinces’ purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus) and American goldfinch (Cardeuelis tristis) populations consistent with emergence of trichomonosis in this region. Trichomonosis is caused by Trichomonas gallinae, a protozoan parasite infecting the upper digestive tract of birds. Trichomonosis causes slow death from emaciation and dehydration due to lesions preventing ingestion of food and water. This disease is reported by the public at their backyard feeding and watering stations. Therefore, this study’s goal was to better understand the epidemiology of trichomonosis in this region through collaboration with the Maritime bird feeding public. Through use of molecular tools and field techniques this study was able to conclude that (1) rock pigeons (Columba livia) can act as a reservoir for T. gallinae in the Canadian Maritime provinces, (2) the same T. gallinae strain that caused the United Kingdom epidemic is present in Canadian Maritime wild avifauna, (3) moist birdseed can possibly act as a fomite in the transmission of T. gallinae and (4) climate is a potential contributing factor in the emergence of v T. gallinae in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Finally, this study provided the first scientific approach to assess the role of birdfeeders and watering stations as fomites facilitating transmission of trichomonosis. The information obtained from this project resulted in general recommendations on trichomonosis prevention for the concerned bird feeding public, thus protecting the health and welfare of birds frequenting birdfeeders. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It wasn’t hard to decide who I had to thank first when I look back on this project. Without my supervisors, Dr. Spencer Greenwood and Dr. Scott McBurney, this project certainly would not have turned out the way it did. I will never be able to fully, nor properly, describe the influence that these two people have had on both my research, as well as my personal life. Neither of them ever turned me away when I showed up at their door with a “hopefully this is an easy question” question or despite how many times I interrupted a lunch, and for that I will forever be grateful. I am also grateful for how humane they treated me. Before beginning my program I heard the horror stories of how supervisors tended to treat research subjects better than their graduate students, however not once was I made feel this way. Both Spencer and Scott took the time to get to know me and were always there for a talk when needed. Finally, I must highlight how extremely patient these two men were with me. When I first started, with little-to-no lab experience, a not-so-delicate skinning technique, and an awful, awful pronunciation of the human language, they took time to work with me to get me where I had to be to complete my program. I also have to thank them for not running the other way when they realized how accident prone I was (and running from a cripple certainly would have been very easy!). Again, I will never be able tell them how truly thankful I am. I would also like to thank the other members of my committee, Dr. María Forzán, Dr. Kevin Teather and Dr. Fred Kibenge for the assistance they provided at all levels of the research project. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Rick Cawthorn, Dr. Marina vii Silva-Opps and Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust for taking time out from their busy schedules to serve on my examination committee and provide valuable comments on the research. A very special thanks goes out to all who have helped with this project either in the lab, field or with data recording or analysis. Some people in particular who deserve thanks are: Fraser Clark, Adam Acorn and Jean Chi for all their assistance and patience in the lab; Dwaine Oakley, Ben Hoteling and Fiep DeBie for donating their time to help me in the field, as well with answering my many, many questions; and all CCWHC members, in particular, Raph Vanderstichel for his statistical advice at times of need! I would also like to thank all the staff at the AVC for their assistance and for making the past few years enjoyable! Others who deserve thanks include Becki Lawson and Kevin Tyler, who welcomed me into their labs in 2011 and gave me the wonderful opportunity to work and travel internationally. I would also like to thank my family for the support they provided me through my entire life and in particular, during my MSc. Also another big shout out goes to all graduate students I’ve met or worked with during the past two years. Without the other students there would not have been numerous never- ending debates, exchanges of knowledge, skills, or simple venting of frustration over a ‘beverage’, and I simply couldn’t imagine my program without them! I must also acknowledge my boyfriend and best friend, Joey, without whose encouragement, editing assistance (albeit not the most thorough), late-night viii food deliveries to the office and never-ending patience I would not have finished this thesis. Finally, I must say a huge thanks to those who provided funding or in- kind contributions for this research, without them I would not be here writing these acknowledgements: Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre; The Canadian Wildlife Federation; the Atlantic Veterinary College Lobster Science Centre; the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, Atlantic region; University of Prince Edward Island; Atlantic Veterinary College Pathology and Microbiology Department; University of East Anglia Biomedical Research Centre; and the Zoological Society of London. ix DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to the birdfeeding community and property owners who participated in this study. Without their support this research would not have been possible. x TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................