trichomonoasis again?

[Paul Bingham]

At our Derby garden feeders over the past couple of weeks we have had at
least 3 Greenfinches showing symptoms of trichomonoasis - fluffed up,
lethargic, difficulty in swallowing, saliva soaked bills and faces.
This disease was rampant nationally last year but I have not heard of
any cases recently. Has anyone else?

[DaiTheDragon]

I have noticed a dramatic fall in numbers this year. Where I used to see 20-30 I now only see 1-2.

Dai

[wildliferescuer]

We deal with an ever-growing number of birds with trichomoniasis (canker) in our wildlife hospital. We are used to seeing pigeons, doves & even tawny owls with it, but we do now deal with a lot of finches. It's very sad, there is not much we can do as it is only treatable if caught very early on. By the time they get picked up it is often too far advanced to treat & is kinder to put the birds to sleep.

[Morph]

I had an outbreak about a month ago, have just started feeding again and it looks like I've lost half the flock of Goldfinches, I used to have around 20 visiting up to yet the most I've seen is 10.
The problem as I see, it is not the stopping feeding for a couple of weeks as is recommeneded, but that you would have to stop everyone else in the area from feeding also.

[Llangynog]

Can someone enlighten me as to the cause of this disease, is it the one spread by infected bird food and/or unclean feeders? I did see a greenfinch and a chaffinch the other day that were definitely ailing.
Al.

[wildliferescuer]

It is caused by a parasite & is spread easily bird to bird but also through unclean feeders etc

[Morph]

Originally Posted by Llangynog

Can someone enlighten me as to the cause of this disease, is it the one spread by infected bird food and/or unclean feeders? I did see a greenfinch and a chaffinch the other day that were definitely ailing.
Al.

As far as I can tell its spread by saliva, the infected bird can't swallow properly and so salivates more dribbling onto bird feeders and food thus spreading the virus.

[dmclean2]

Yes, I agree with morph about the dribling bit, and the inability to swallow, their front is usualy wet and their bum as well, I keep my feeders clean and use a product called Vanodine V18, its a mild bird freindly disinfectant used by the pigeon fanciers, I mix some up with water and then after ive cleaned the feeders out I spray it on to them then dry off with a clean towel, I clean the bird bath out and use it on that as well.
I have not come accross Trichomonoasis down here in Kent as yet and hadn't heard much about it for a good year or so, till this thread,
Duncan