Development and Optimization of Trichomonas Gallinae Infected Animal Model

Jiang Jiahao; Cai Haiming; Liao Shenquan; Qi Nanshan; Li Juan; Lv Minna; Lin Xuhui; Song Yongle; Chen Xiangjie; Zhu Yibin; Zhang Jianfei; Liu Wenjun; Sun Mingfei

doi:10.19978/j.cnki.xmsy.2025.02.03

Abstract：In this study,different methods and doses for infecting animals with Trichomonas gallinae were compared to determine the optimal modeling approach using various evaluation indices.Thirty uninfected squabs were randomly divided into six groups(n=5 per group):PBS control group,0.3%Agar+TYM control group,conventional infection group,double infection group,throat spray infection group,and 0.3%Agar+TYM infection group.Each infected squab received a dose of 1×107 T.gallinae organisms daily for five consecutive days.Results showed that only the 0.3%Agar+TYM infection group achieved a 100%infection rate and exhibited a 20%mortality rate.The absolute and relative weight gains in the double infection,throat spray infection,and 0.3%Agar+TYM infection groups were significantly lower than those in+thein the PBS control group.The liver weight and relative liver weight in the 0.3%Agar+TYM infection group were significantly reduced compared to the PBS control group.Similarly,the mean lung weight and relative lung weight in the double infection group were significantly lower than those in the PBS control group.The highest T.gallinae concentrations in oral and pharyngeal swabs were consistently observed in the 0.3%Agar+TYM infection group throughout the study period.To further optimize the 0.3%Agar+TYM method,forty uninfected squabs were divided into eight groups(n=5 per group):PBS control group,0.4%Agar+TYM control group,and six infection groups using different Agar+TYM concentrations(0.2%,0.3%,and 0.4%)at both low(1×106)and high(1×107)doses of T.gallinae per day for five consecutive days.All infection groups except for the 0.4%Agar+TYM high-dose group achieved 100%infection rates.All infected groups,except the 0.2%Agar+TYM high-dose group,showed significantly lower mean and relative weight gains compared to the PBS control group.The liver weight and relative liver weight were significantly reduced in the 0.3%Agar+TYM low-dose,0.3%Agar+TYM high-dose,and 0.4%Agar+TYM high-dose infection groups compared to the PBS control group.T.gallinae concentrations in oral and pharyngeal swabs showed a gradual increase from day 3 to day 7 in both the 0.3%Agar+TYM and 0.4%Agar+TYM high-dose infection groups.In conclusion,the optimal infection protocol was determined to be 0.3%Agar+TYM as the suspension medium using a dose of 1×106 T.gallinae organisms per squab administered daily for five consecutive days.This established animal model provides a foundation for anti-T.gallinae drug screening studies and studies on T.gallinae invasion mechanisms.