ESOPHAGEAL TRICHOMONIASIS IN CHICKENS

Esophageal trichomoniasis has been rarely reported in chickens. At the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System-Turlock Branch, th is disease was recently diagnosed in two cases submitted from backyard chicken Becks. The esophageal lesions observed were similar to those seen in several other important diseases of chickens. The causative tr ichomonad organisms were readily demonstrated on wet smears and by his tologic studies. In both cases, the investigated Becks were afflicted with several concurrent diseases. California has experienced an increa se in the number of small nontraditional chicken production operations . These facilities are sometimes in close proximity to commercial poul try operations and biosecurity barriers occasionally fail. The poor hu sbandry practices often used in these small Becks make them a potentia l reservoir for rare diseases such as trichomoniasis and also for dise ase organisms that are devastating to commercial poultry.