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. 2022 Jul;8(4):1528-1538.
doi: 10.1002/vms3.792. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasites in household and temple pigeons (Columba livia) in central Nepal

Roshan Babu Adhikari  1 , Purna Bahadur Ale  1 , Madhuri Adhikari Dhakal  2 , Tirth Raj Ghimire  3
Affiliations

Prevalence and diversity of intestinal parasites in household and temple pigeons (Columba livia) in central Nepal

Roshan Babu Adhikari et al. Vet Med Sci. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Intestinal infection, caused by various protozoans and helminths, represents one of the significant health concerns in pigeons around the world.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the diversity and prevalence of the intestinal parasites in pigeons found in Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan, in central Nepal.

Methods: The fresh faecal samples (n = 155) were non-invasively collected from different households and temples pigeons The individual samples were immediately preserved in the 2.5% potassium dichromate solution and transported to the research laboratory. Following direct wet mount and concentration methods, the samples were observed under a compound microscope.

Results: The results showed 87.1% prevalence rate with 16 parasite species that included 8 protozoan and 8 helminth faunae. The faecal samples of temple pigeons contained a higher prevalence rate with higher parasitic richness (95.6%; 16 species) than household pigeons (75.4%; 12 species). Mixed infection up to four different species was recorded in both types of sampling populations.

Conclusions: Pigeons harbour a greater prevalence and wider diversity of intestinal parasites and the parasitism varies based on the habitats. Proper management and effective deworming practices are recommended to control intestinal parasitic infection in these avian hosts.

Keywords: Capillaria; Caryospora; Cryptosporidium; Eimeria; oocysts; temple pigeons.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Map of the study area
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Pigeons and their habitat. (a) Pigeons on indigenous lofts made up of soil inside the house (Khoyep or Daliya in Tharu language). (b) Traditional lofts of pigeons adjacent to house. (c) Pigeons in locally made water jar. (d) Temple pigeons feeding on the grains. (e) Household pigeons feeding on the grains
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Laboratory processing of faecal samples. (a) Acid‐fast staining with malachite green (left two slides) and with carbol fuchsin (right 10 slides). (b) Processing of faecal samples through flotation technique
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Intestinal parasites identified in the pigeons. (a) Cyst of Entamoeba sp. (10 × 10 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (b) Oocyst of Cryptosporidium sp. (5 × 4 μm), 1000×, after acid‐fast staining. (c) Oocyst of Eimeria columbae (16 × 15 μm), 400× after flotation. (d) Oocyst of Eimeria labbeana (21 × 16 μm), 400× after flotation. (e) Oocyst of E. columbarum (20 × 18 μm), 400× after flotation. (f) Oocyst of E. kapotei (26 × 23 μm), 400× after flotation. (g) Oocyst of Caryospora sp. (25 × 24 μm), 400× after sedimentation. (h) Oocyst of Isospora sp. (27 × 25 μm), 400× after direct wet mount at Gram's iodine. (i) Egg of Heterophyes sp. (30 × 17 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (j) Egg of Capillaria columbae (48 × 27 μm), 400× after flotation. (k) Egg of Capillaria annulata (63 × 24 μm), 400× after flotation. (l) Egg of Hymenolepis sp. (58 × 36 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (m) Egg of Ascaridia sp. (81 × 47 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (n) Egg of Strongyle (90 × 54 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (o) Egg of Echinostoma sp. (98 × 58 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (p) Egg of Heterakis sp. (58 × 43 μm), 400× after direct wet mount at 2.5% potassium dichromate solution
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Intestinal parasites identified in the pigeons. (a) Cyst of Entamoeba sp. (10 × 10 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (b) Oocyst of Cryptosporidium sp. (5 × 4 μm), 1000×, after acid‐fast staining. (c) Oocyst of Eimeria columbae (16 × 15 μm), 400× after flotation. (d) Oocyst of Eimeria labbeana (21 × 16 μm), 400× after flotation. (e) Oocyst of E. columbarum (20 × 18 μm), 400× after flotation. (f) Oocyst of E. kapotei (26 × 23 μm), 400× after flotation. (g) Oocyst of Caryospora sp. (25 × 24 μm), 400× after sedimentation. (h) Oocyst of Isospora sp. (27 × 25 μm), 400× after direct wet mount at Gram's iodine. (i) Egg of Heterophyes sp. (30 × 17 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (j) Egg of Capillaria columbae (48 × 27 μm), 400× after flotation. (k) Egg of Capillaria annulata (63 × 24 μm), 400× after flotation. (l) Egg of Hymenolepis sp. (58 × 36 μm), 400× after sedimentation at Gram's iodine. (m) Egg of Ascaridia sp. (81 × 47 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (n) Egg of Strongyle (90 × 54 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (o) Egg of Echinostoma sp. (98 × 58 μm), 400× after sedimentation at methylene blue. (p) Egg of Heterakis sp. (58 × 43 μm), 400× after direct wet mount at 2.5% potassium dichromate solution
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