Cryptosporidium spp. in C olumba livia Gmelin, 1789 (Columbiformes: Columbidae) free-living pigeons from urban areas in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. are parasites with zoonotic potential that cause intestinal diseases, generally intense diarrheal, on their hosts, which tend to be immunocompromised. Large populations of pigeons in urban environments can lead to greater human exposure to Cryptosporidium spp., as this bird is considered a potential reservoir and is able to transmit several pathogens. This study aimed in determining the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in feces of free-living pigeons (Columba livia) found in urban areas in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, south of Brazil. Fecal samples (n = 50) were collected from young and adult pigeons captured in different locations in the urban area and the parasitological diagnosis was performed through Ritchie's modified technique and Kinyoun's technique. Among the 50 samples, 18% (IC95% 9.7-30.8) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. with a low number of oocysts being detected on fecal smears. Our results confirmed the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in feces of free-living pigeons from the urban area of the city of Pelotas. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in feces of pigeons in south Brazil. This data has epidemiological significance because the oocysts could be from zoonotic species, which consequently shows that humans might be exposed to infection.

Keywords: Cryptosporidiosis; Environmental contamination; Oocysts; Pigeons.

Fig. 1

a Free-living adult pigeons feeding in a public square in the city of Pelotas; b Young pigeons in a nest found in a building in the central area of the city of Pelotas; c Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst stained by Kinyoun’s staining technique