Parasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Sebele, Gaborone, Botswana
Mushi, E.Z.; Binta, M.G.; Chabo, R.G.; Ndebele, R.; Panzirah, R.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 71(4): 249-250
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 11212939 Document Number: 521308
The following parasites were found in apparently healthy pigeons kept in Sebele: a haemoprotozoan, Haemoproteus columbae (80%); endoparasite metazoan nematodes, Ascaridia columbae (30%) and Dispharynx spiralis (10%); a cestode, Raillietina sp. (80%) and coccidian oocysts (40%); 2 ectoparasites, namely the pigeon fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis (50%) and the louse, Columbicola columbae (30%). The pigeons also had highantibody titres, (1:256) to the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (100%). The latter infection in these domestic pigeons has public health implications.