Cheesy, proliferative lesions in the mouth of a raptor require microscopic diagnosis to confirm trichomoniasis.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Requires blood tests
• D. Diagnosis by culture

Answer: (A)

Direct microscopic identification of Trichomonas gallinae in fresh scrapings from the cheesy, proliferative oral lesions is the standard way to confirm trichomoniasis in a raptor. The parasite is a motile, pear-shaped flagellate that can be seen on a wet mount, so examining the lesion directly provides concrete evidence of infection and a rapid, reliable diagnosis. Culture or molecular tests can support或 further characterize the infection, but they aren’t required for confirmation in most cases, and blood tests aren’t used to diagnose this disease.