Ticks

Dermanyssus spp (red mite) Argas spp. (soft tick)

Pigeons are restless, agitated, exhibit pruritus, feather loss, dermatitis. Fatigue, anemia, and nervous disorders (tick paralysis) occur.

Red mites will not be found on pigeons during the day; they hide in cracks in shelters, but at night they emerge from their hiding places and begin to feed.

An effective solution to get rid of them is spraying or fogging the shelters with solutions based on Deltamethrin, Esbiothrin, Piperonyl Butoxide.

Ornithonyssus spp. (northern fowl mite) Unlike Dermanyssus spp., it lives permanently on the pigeon. They appear among the feathers as small black dots.

Skin and feather mites Syringophylus spp.

Dermatoglyphus spp. Pterolychus spp. Analges spp (“feather lice”)

Presence of parasites in feathers. Feather loss. The wound site will also be affected. Parts of the feather remain in the follicles and often contain parasites.

Mites

Cnemidocoptes spp. C. laevis var. columbae (depluming mite). An erythemato-crusty, depluming, pruritic, highly contagious dermatosis appears. The warmer it is, the more intensely the pigeon scratches. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings. Not to be confused with physiological molting (which is not accompanied by pruritus).

C. mutans (scaly leg mite, scabby leg mite)

A chronic, benign, proliferative crusty dermatosis of the legs, with low contagiousness. Microscopic examination of crust scrapings.

Laminosioptes cysticola (nodular mite) Small, subcutaneously located nodules are found in the connective tissue of the neck, trunk, and leg regions. Small, subcutaneously located nodules are palpable, feeling like grains of sand. Microscopic examination of the nodules.

Respiratory mites Sternostoma tracheocolum (tracheal mite), Cytodites nudus.

Respiratory mites cause respiratory disorders, chronic fatigue, emaciation, asphyxiation, and even death. Microscopic examination (generally post-mortem). ROMBENDAZOL SUPER can be tried with good results (1/4 tablet/pigeon/day, 2-3 consecutive days, repeated after 3 weeks)

Biting lice (Columbicola spp. Lipeurus spp. Goniodes spp. Menopon spp. Peniculus spp.)

Instability, deterioration of plumage, scratching (pruritus, emaciation) reduced vitality and productivity. Pigeons peck continuously, may even leave the nest. Eggs attached to feathers are observed.

Parasites and eggs attached to the plumage are visible to the naked eye.

Fleas

Ceratophyllus gallinae C. columbae. Anemia, pruritus (scratching), restlessness, instability, weakness. Fleas are less common on pigeons. They appear more frequently in the environment (shelter).

Bed bugs Cimex lectularius C. columbarius

Anemia, severe pruritus at the bite site, difficult development, mortality. Paralysis and spirochete infections can occur as sequelae (after bites). Shelters and pigeons are examined at night (they are agitated, scratching, moving).

Louse flies ,Lynchia maura ,Pseudolynchia canaressis,Ornithomya avicularia

Irritation, restlessness, severe anemia leading to death, especially in young birds. Transmit Haemoproteus spp (malaria agent).

Insects live on birds in winter (as adults) or as larvae in shelters.

Insects hidden among the feathers, sucking the blood of their hosts, are observed. They move rapidly in the plumage of affected birds.

Other hematophagous insects (mosquitoes, black flies, beetles, etc.)

Anemia, irritation, reduced performance, dermatitis. Can transmit blood parasites (malaria), viruses, and pathogenic bacteria. Observed especially at night when feeding.

The vast majority of the parasites listed above should no longer be found in our pigeon flock as they severely affect the performance of our pigeons.

Active substances in the fight against ectoparasites Cypermethrin and permethrin are synthetic pyrethroids with particularly intense insecticidal action (200-500 times greater than that of organochlorine and organophosphorus substances), which is achieved by contact or ingestion. The low concentration level of the powder and reduced toxicity ensure a notable safety coefficient, both for animals, operators handling it, and the environment.

We can also use spot-on pipettes or drops based on ivermectin or avermectin applied at the base of the neck, but we must ensure it is at least one month before the start of flights.