Health status of free-living pigeons in the city of Santiago

Abstract

A total of 100 free-living urban pigeons (Columba livia) were captured in the city of Santiago, Chile, in order to evaluate, for the ® rst time, their health status. Negligible antibody titres (1 to 3 log2) were detected in 22% of the birds against a strain of the paramyxovirus (PMV) serotype 1. No pigeons had antibodies against PMV serotype 7 and avian in¯uenza. Salmonella sp. belonging to serogroups B and D were isolated from the intestinal tract of three pigeons (3%). The protozoa Haemoproteus columbae, Plasmodium sp., and Leucocytozoon sp. were not detected in any pigeons. Trichomonas gallinae was detected in 11%, without observation of either clinical signs or gross pathological changes at necropsy. Sixty-seven percent of the birds showed the presence of the chewing lice Columbicola columbae and Campanulotes bidentatus compar, and 1% harboured the mite Laminosioptes cysticola. Seven species of nematodes were identi® ed. The frequency at which each species was detected was; Tetrameres sp. (14%), Capillaria annulata (1%), Capillaria columbae (11%), Capillaria obsignata (1%), Ascaridia columbae (5%), Dispharynx spiralis (2%), and Gongylonema ingluvicola (2%). The class Cestoda, found in one pigeon, was represented by the species Aporina delafondi. No trematodes were detected in the sampled birds.

Estado Actual Del Conocimiento De Helmintos en Aves Silvestres De Chile

“…Paralelamente, el género Profilicollis fue aislado por Torres et al (1993) (Torres et al 1991a) y Yelcho (Torres et al 1992) y de P. atriceps provenientes del lago Tagua-Tagua (Torres et al 1992). Por último, Oliva et al (1992) (Toro et al 1999) y Chillán (36º34'S-72º06'O) (González-Acuña et al 2004b) y en Zenaida auriculata Des Murs 1847 en esta última ciudad (González-Acuña et al 2004a (Torres et al 1991a), Yelcho, Tagua-Tagua (Torres et al 1992), Llanquihue, Rupanco (40°46'S-72°30'O) y Caburga (39º06S-71º45'O) (Torres et al 1993) y en L. maculipennis en el lago Villarrica (39º13'S-72º06'O) (Torres et al 1993 (Figueroa et al 1979) y estuario del río Valdivia (39°52'S-73°20'O) (Torres et al 1982) y en ejemplares de L. maculipennis también provenientes del lago Calafquén (Figueroa et al 1980). Por último, González et al (1980) (Torres et al 1991b(Torres et al , 1993 (Babero et al 1981).…”

“…Dentro de la familia Paruterinidae Fuhrmann 1907, González-Acuña et al (2000) (Torres et al 1982), en Larus scoresbii Traill 1823 en la costa Yaldad (Torres et al 1991a), en P. brasilianus del lago Tagua-Tagua (Torres et al 1992), en L. maculipennis de los lagos Tagua-Tagua (Torres et al 1992) y Villarrica (Torres et al 1993) y en Spheniscus humboldti Meyen 1834 en playas de la Quinta Región (entre 32º31'S-71º27'O y 32º47'S-71º32'O) (Mann 1992 (Torres et al 1991a), Yelcho, Tagua-Tagua (Torres et al 1992), Llanquihue, Rupanco y Caburga (Torres et al 1993 (Azuma et al 1988). Posteriormente, Toro et al (1999) y González-Acuña et al (2000) reportan un 2 y 4% de prevalencia del helminto Dispharinx nasuta Rudolphi 1819 (syn. : D. spiralis) en ejemplares de C. livia y C. californica respectivamente.…”

Laminosioptes cysticola in free-range chickens in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Mortality as associated to the parasitism has also been reported in poultry (SMOLSKA-SZYMCZEWSKA, 2000). L. cysticola was also detected in one (1/100) free living pigeon in the city of Santiago of Chile (TORO, 1999) and in one female cowbird (Molothrus ater) with SC lumps on the neck and back (STEWART, 1963 Ciência Rural, v.40, n.6, jun, 2010. monachus (Psittaciformes), all found under the skin of birds which had died in the Antwerp Zoo after a short time in captivity (FAIN, 1981). The parasite penetrates into the subcutaneous tissue, where it feeds and eventually dies, the dead parasites are then encysted in collagen and cysts may evolve to calcification (REIS, 1956).…”

“…The occurrence of the parasite has been reported in chickens, turkeys, pheasants, geese, pigeons, psittacines and passerines worldwide (ARENDS, 2003;FAIN, 1981;LOOMIS, 1978;SMITH, 1997;SMOLSKA-SZYMCZEWSKA, 2000;TORO, 1999). Laminosioptes cysticola is most frequently found in the SC tissues (REIS, 1956), but has been reported in muscles, thoracoabdominal viscera, peritoneum and lungs (LOOMIS, 1978).…”

“…Laminosioptes cysticola has been previously described in passerines (FAIN, 1981;STEWART, 1963), a psittacine (FAIN, 1981) and pigeons (FAIN, 1981;TORO, 1999), both playing roles in harbouring and dissemination. As an important protein source in human nutrition for rural and peri-urban, especially poor, communities, and the growing market for extensively raised poultry, the non-industrial chickens are raised free-range allowing the re-emergence of presently rare conditions for indoor poultry.…”