PARASITIC DISEASES IN PIGEONS (ENDOPARASITIC DISEASES)

Protozoa

TRICHOMONIASIS

Caused by Trichomonas gallinae - Squabs: anorexia, stomatitis, pseudomembranous angina, nasal discharge, dysphagia, nodules (even as large as a hazelnut). Mortality rate 30%. In adults, mucus appears from the beak, labored breathing, rales, fatigue. Laboratory examination is performed on oropharyngeal mucosa samples (rectal swabs) from live pigeons or very fresh carcasses (the examination must be performed very quickly, as the parasites rapidly become inactive (generally, diagnosis is not made on carcasses)). Contamination occurs through drinking water (adults) or through feeding with crop milk. Lofts should be disinfected daily.

HEXAMITIASIS

Caused by Spironucleus spp. In squabs: severe weight loss, decreased vitality, watery diarrhea with mucus, drowsiness. Adults: pronounced weight loss, low vital tone, reduced flight performance, molting.

COCCIDIOSIS:

Eimeriosis caused by Eimeria columbae, E. columbarum and E. labbeana

Squabs: diarrhea, sometimes hemorrhagic, apathy, polydipsia, excessive thirst, ruffled feathers, deviation of the sternal keel, delayed flight phase.

Adults: dull feathers, weight loss.

Microscopic examination of intestinal contents from mucosal scrapings (carcasses) or feces (in live birds).

HAEMOSPORIDIOSIS:

Plasmodium spp. Haemoproteus columbae

These are endocellular parasitic protozoa that live in pigeon erythrocytes. They are transmitted by mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects and cause malaria. They cause anemia and reduce pigeon vigor. A massive infestation with H. columbae is accompanied by stress and feather pecking. Death can also occur, especially in squabs.

Laboratory examination (blood smears stained by the MGG method). The presence of parasites in the microscopic field confirms the diagnosis.

TOXOPLASMOSIS

Manifested by fatigue, loss of athletic form, wing paresis (in squabs and young birds), and in the case of the clinical form: depression, progressive fatigue, paresis and paralysis (of wings, legs, torticollis). Laboratory examinations.

Prevent access of cats to lofts and feeding areas (they are intermediate hosts).

HELMINTHS

(worms) NEMATODES - roundworms

Capillaria spp. Capillariasis of the esophagus and crop: dystrophy, torticollis, pigeons refuse to eat because they cannot swallow food. Intestinal capillariasis: diarrhea, sometimes bloody, weight loss, anemia, cachexia. Laboratory coproscopic examination (in older birds, parasite eggs are found) or anatomopathological examination of carcasses where parasites can be found in the esophageal and crop mucosa or intestine.

Ascaridia columbae (roundworms) Non-specific. In massive infestations: anorexia, diarrhea, cachexia, tremors, torticollis (head twisting) as a result of intoxication. In mild infestations, the general condition is affected (fatigue, reduced athletic performance, etc.). They can also cause intestinal obstructions when present in very large numbers ("balls of parasites"). Coproscopic examination (feces) or anatomopathological examination (carcasses).

SYNGAMUS TRACHEA (Gapeworm) Labored breathing (even asphyxia), constant gaping of the beak, coughing, loss of appetite, weight loss, and death.

Pigeons become infested after ingesting earthworms containing S. trachea eggs (the earthworm is an intermediate host). Clinical examination: feathers are plucked from the tracheal area, and parasites can be seen if the trachea is exposed to strong light sources (worms are visible through the skin's transparency in the tracheal lumen) and ovohelmintoscopic examination (coproscopy).

CESTODES

(flatworms) Raillietina crasula, R. bonini and Hymenolepis columbae (pigeon tapeworms). Echinostoma revolutum (which is a trematode). Tapeworm infections are rarer in pigeons and only occur when they consume the intermediate hosts of tapeworms (snails, flies) and can cause: severe weight loss, anemia, loss of vitality (athletic form), through spoliative, mechanical, and toxic actions (can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss). They can also cause intestinal obstructions. Necropsy and coproscopic examination (proglottids are found in feces).