ABSTRACT
Trichomonas gallinae is a ubiquitous flagellated protozoan parasite, and the most common etiologic agent of epidemic trichomonosis in columbid and passerine species. In this study, free-ranging Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata monilis) in California (USA) were found to be infected with trichomonad protozoa that were genetically and morphologically distinct from T. gallinae. In microscopic analysis, protozoa were significantly smaller in length and width than T. gallinae and were bimodal in morphology. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS1/5.8S/ITS2, rpb1, and hydrogenosomal Fe-hydrogenase regions revealed that the protozoan shares an ancestor with Trichomonas vaginalis, the sexually-transmitted agent of trichomoniasis in humans. Clinical and pathologic features of infected birds were similar to infections with T. gallinae. Evidence presented here strongly support taxonomical distinction of this parasite, which we hereby name Trichomonas stableri n. sp. This work contributes to a growing body of evidence that T. gallinae is not the sole etiologic agent of avian trichomonosis, and that the incorporation of molecular tools is critical in the investigation of infectious causes of mortality in birds.
ABSTRACT
Twenty-two different triazoles were prepared to examine the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis structure-activity relationships (SAR) within the ß-lactam-isatin-triazole conjugate family. The compounds were synthesized by copper-catalyzed 'click chemistry.'In vitro activity against T. vaginalis was determined at 10 and 100 µM for each compound, with eighteen of the synthesized hybrids showing 100% growth inhibition at 100 µM. The compound 5i, with no cytotoxicity on cultured CHO-K1 cells, is considered a good compound for further analysis.
