Ectoparasites and Intestinal Helminths of Pigeons in Medina, Saudi Arabia

The prevalence of ectoparasites and intestinal helminths of different pigeon taxa in Medina, Saudi Arabia, with special emphasis on the feral pigeon, Columba livia domestica (Columbiformes: Columbidae), was evaluated. Fifty-four pigeons were examined externally for ectoparasites and 28 feral pigeons were examined for helminths. Two ectoparasites were recorded on feral C. l. domestica (Harami) pigeons, including the shaft louse Menopon gallinae (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), and the pigeon fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), with 100 and 88.90% prevalence, respectively. Ectoparasites were also collected from 5 other breeds of C. l. domestica (Pakistani, Farensi, Turki, Kori, and Qatifi). Menopon gallinae infected Pakistani, Farensi, and Turki pigeons with 100% prevalence. A third ectoparasite, the brown poultry louse, Goniodes dissimilis (Psocodea: Philopteridae), infected Farensi, Turki, and Kori pigeons at rates of 100, 50, and 50%, respectively. Qatifi pigeons were not infected with any ectoparasites. Two types of intestinal helminths were recovered from feral pigeons: cestodes of Raillietina spp. (Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) and nematodes of Ascaridia sp. (Ascaridida: Ascaridiidae) (with 10.71 and 3.57% prevalences, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to shed light on the parasites of pigeons in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Analysis of phoretic relation between chewing lice and hippoboscid flies of Columba livia

Phoresy is a biologically mechanical phenomena where an immobile organism hitches on a other mobile organism to translocate. This behaviour is not studied very well on the field level especially between two important parasites infesting the same host. Parasite/parasite interaction is rarely studied through most biological host-parasite systems. Here, we evaluated the phoretic relation between parasitic chewing lice and hippoboscid flies (Pseudolynchia canariensis) on rock pigeons. A total of 69 captivated rock pigeons, Columba livia, were examined for the parasitic chewing lice and hippoboscid flies in Giza Zoo and two local farms near Cairo, Egypt. Results indicated that there is a positive correlation between infestation of hippoboscid flies and chewing lice. Also, the analysis of louse/louse interaction using ANOVA indicated a significant difference between the three chewing louse species which were recorded on the rock pigeons with relatively high abundance of two species, Columbicola columbae and Campanulotes compar. The analysis of hippoboscid flies' abundance and its relation with chewing lice infestation indicate a significant increase of lice intensity in case of high infestation with the fly. The level of hygiene of nest may be inversely related to level of parasite infestation. This work forms a step in the process of understanding parasite/parasite and host/parasite interactions using two parasitic species with a characteristic phoretic behaviour in nature.

Defining host range: host-parasite compatibility during the non-infective phase of the parasite also matters

Host range and parasite specificity determine key epidemiological, ecological and evolutionary aspects of host-parasite interactions. Parasites are usually classified as generalists or specialists based on the number of hosts they feed on. Yet, the requirements of the various stages of a parasite may influence the suitability of a given host species. Here, we investigate the generalist nature of three common ectoparasites (the dipteran Carnus hemapterus and two species of louse flies, Pseudolynchia canariensis and Ornithophila metallica), exploiting two avian host species (the European roller Coracias garrulus and the Rock pigeon Columba livia), that frequently occupy the same breeding sites. We explore the prevalence and abundance of both the infective and the puparial stages of the ectoparasites in both host species. Strong preferences of Pseudolynchia canariensis for pigeons and of Carnus hemapterus for rollers were found. Moderate prevalence of Ornithophila metallica was found in rollers but this louse fly avoided pigeons. In some cases, the infestation patterns observed for imagoes and puparia were consistent whereas in other cases host preferences inferred from imagoes differed from the ones suggested by puparia. We propose that the adult stages of these ectoparasites are more specialist than reported and that the requirements of non-infective stages can restrict the effective host range of some parasites.

Pseudomalaria in a domestic pigeon: a case report

Microscopic examination of thin blood smear of a domestic pigeon brought to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Junagadh, Gujarat revealed mature and immature halter shaped gametocytes of Haemoproteus columbae encircling the nucleated erythrocytes. The disease was diagnosed as acute infection of pigeon malaria more notably known as pseudomalaria. The parasitic infection was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the Cytochrome b (cyt b) gene fragment amplifying 207 base pair (bp) fragment. Pseudolynchia canariensis, the vector for H. columbae was also recovered from underneath the feathers of the affected pigeon.

A First Report of Infestation by Pseudolynchia canariensis in a Herd of Pigeons in Shahrekord (Southwest of Iran)

BACKGROUND

Pigeons (Columba livia) have been kept as pet and reared for food in several countries including Iran. Ectoparasites are regarded as the basic causes of retardation in growth, lowered vitality and poor conditions of the birds. Pseudolynchia canariensis a hippoboscidae fly is one of the important ectoparasites of pigeons and is responsible for the transmission of pathogens to birds and humans same as pathogenic protozoan Haemoproteus columbae.

METHODS

A herd of domestic pigeons contained 50 pigeons in Shahrekord, southwest Iran was evaluated clinically infested by ectoparasites. Ectoparasites were removed. The samples were collected and then referred to the Laboratory of Parasitology of Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

RESULTS

Usin diagnostic key for diptera fly, these flies were find P. canariensis. This is a rare report of infestation of pigeons herd by P. canariensis in Iran. The infestation rate was 40% that rate of infestation in pipers was more than females and in females was more than males.

CONCLUSION

The rate of infested pipers was more than adults that maybe the less potential of pipers in removing of ectoparasites is reason of this higher rate.