Salpingitis in Pekin ducks associated with concurrent infection with Tetratrichomonas sp and Escherichia coli

Increased mortality (1.5% per week) and low egg production (5-10% lower tha n normal) were observed in a flock of domestic breeding Pekin ducks (Anas p latyrhynchos). At necropsy, salpingitis and peritonitis were the most signi ficant findings. Histologic ally, there was accumulation of necrotic debris in the lumen of the oviduct. Numerous bacteria and trichomonads were obser ved histologically in the lumen of the vagina and occasionally in the shell gland. Escherichia coli and a trichomonad were isolated from the oviduct. The trichomonads were oval (6-8 mum long, 4.5-6 mum. wide) and had 4 anteri or flagella and an undulating membrane extending over the entire length of the body, finishing in a long posterior flagellum. Morphology was consisten t with trichomonads of the genus Tetratrichomonas. Comparative sequence ana lysis of the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and the flanking internal transcribed space regions of the trichomonad isolate did not closely match with availab le sequences of the same region of other trichomonadid protozoa.