Parasitic affections of domesticated pigeons (Columba livia) in Jammu, India

The parasitic fauna of domesticated pigeons in Jammu region were not recorded and so a survey was undertaken amongst a population of approximately 4000 birds in twelve areas around Jammu. Ectoparasites and haemoprotozoa from live birds, and endoparasites from dead birds were recorded. Ova shed in feces were also screened in four different seasons. Ectoparasites recovered include Columbicola columbae, Campanulotes bidentatus, Pseudolynchia canariensis, Ctenocephalides sp., Psoroptes sp. A total of 22 (36.67%) out 60 gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of pigeons were positive for helminthic endoparasites including Raillietina sp. (25%; 15/60); Ascaridia sp. (5%; 3/60) and the hairworm Capillaria sp. (6.67%; 4/60). coccidian (58.3%; 35/60), cryptosporidian parasites (50.0%; 5/10), Trichomonas gallinae (40%; 12/30) and haemoprotozoal schizogony tissue stages (45.0%; 27/60) were observed in cloacal, oro-pharyngeal and tissue samples from post-mortem materials. Prevalence of cestodes was relatively more than nematodes perhaps due to the pigeon’s access to intermediate hosts of the cestodes. Blood smears showed the presence of Haemoproteus columbae gametocytes (26.6%; 8/30). Twenty-four pooled fecal samples examined from six select villages revealed presence of different parasitic ova. A higher prevalence of parasitic eggs was noted in the winters. Ascarid eggs were particularly prevalent during monsoon and post monsoon. Raillietina sp. was the most common cestode with lowered prevalence in the peak summers. It is speculated that close confinement of the domesticated birds are responsible for increased parasitic load and their dissemination. The parasitic data generated in the study may be helpful in estimating the faunistic prevalence of different parasites for strategic management of such parasitism during various seasons.