Ticks
Dermanyssus spp. (red tick) Argas spp. (soft tick)
The pigeons are restless, agitated, have itching, plucking, dermatitis. Fatigue, anemia and nervous disorders (tick paralysis) appear
We will not find the red ticks on the pigeon during the day, they stay hidden in the cracks in the shelters, but at night they come out of the shelter and start feeding.
An efficient solution to get rid of them, is to spray or smoke the shelters of the shelters with solutions based on Deltamethrin, Esbiothrin, Piperonyl Butoxide.
Ornithonyssus spp. (black tick) 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")
The 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.
The rivers
Cnemidocoptes spp. C.laevis var.columbae (de-pluming thrush). An erythema-crusted, deplumping, itchy, highly contagious dermatosis appears. The warmer it is, the more intensely the pigeon scratches. Ex. microscopic of the scraper from the skin. Not to be confused with physiological shedding (which is not accompanied by itching).
C.mutans (leg scabies, lichen planus)
Profilerative, chronic, benign crusted dermatosis of the legs, with low contagion. Microscopic examination of scrapings from crusts.
Laminosioptes cysticola (nodular scabies) Small nodules are found, located subcutaneously in the connective tissue of the neck, trunk and legs. Palpate the small nodules, located subcutaneously, which feel like grains of sand. Microscopic examination of nodules.
Respiratory tract mites Sternostonia tracheocolum (tracheal lice), Cytodites nudus.
Respiratory tract mites cause respiratory problems, chronic fatigue, weakness, paralysis, even death. Ex. microscopic (generally post mortem). ROMBENDAZOL SUPER can be tried with good results (1/4 cpr/pigeon/day, 2-3 consecutive days, repeated after 3 weeks)
Malophagous lice (Columbicola spp. Lipeurus spp. Goniodes spp. Menopon spp. Peniculus spp.)
Instability, deterioration of the plumage, scratching (itching, weakening), reduced vitality and productivity. The pigeons peck continuously, they can even leave the nest. Eggs can be seen attached to feathers.
Parasites and eggs attached to the plumage can be seen with the naked eye.
Fleas
Ceratophyllus gallinae C. columbae. Anemia, itching (scratching) restlessness, instability, weakness. Fleas are less common on pigeons. They appear more frequently in the environment (shelter).
Bedbugs Cimex lecturaris C.columbaris
Anemia, violent itching at the site of the sting, difficult development and mortality. Paralysis and spirochete infections can occur as sequelae (after stings). The shelters and the pigeons (which are agitated, scratching, moving) are examined at night.
Hypoboscid midges, Lynchia maura, Pseudolynchia canaressis, Ornythomya avicularia
Irritation, restlessness, severe anemia leading to death especially in youth. They transmit Haemoproteus spp (the agent of malaria).
The insects live in the winter on birds (as adults) or as larvae in the shelter.
You can see the insects hidden between the feathers that suck the blood of the hosts. It moves rapidly in the plumage of affected birds.
Other hematophagous insects (mosquitoes, black flies, cockroaches, etc.)
Anemia, irritation, reduced performance, dermatitis. They can transmit blood parasites (malaria), viruses and pathogenic bacteria. It is especially noticeable at night when they feed.
The vast majority of the parasites listed above should no longer be found in our flock of pigeons as they seriously affect the performance of our pigeons.
Active substances in the fight against ectoparasites Cypermethrina and permethrin are synthetic pyrethroids with particularly intense insecticidal action (200-500 times greater than that of organochlorine substances and organophosphorus substances), which is achieved by contact or ingestion. The low level of the powder concentration and the reduced toxicity ensure a notable safety coefficient, both for the animals, the operators who handle it and the environment.
We can also use spot on pipettes or drops based on ivermectin or avermectin that are applied to the base of the neck, but we must make sure that it is at least one month before the start of the flights.