Occurrence of Cryptosporidium hominis in pigeons (Columba livia)

Abreu-Acosta, Néstor; Foronda, Pilar; López, Marta; Valladares, Basilio

doi:10.2478/s11686-009-0008-4

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…C. parvum is known to have zoonotic potential and identification in birds is rare (Nakamura and Meireles, 2015). The literature on cryptosporidiosis in domestic birds is insufficient, but birds infected with C. meleagridis (Meng et al, 2011;Li et al, 2015), C. baileyi (Li et al, 2015) and Cryptosporidium hominis (Abreu-Acosta et al, 2009) have been reported from China and Spain, respectively. C. parvum has been occasionally reported from aquatic birds such as canada geese (Branta canadensis), mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) (Graczyk et al, 1998), mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata), common mergansers (Mergus merganser) and mute swans (Cygnus olor) (Majewska et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Birds belonging to the genus Columba may represent a public health concern, since they can potentially disseminate zoonotic pathogens and serve as reservoir of many parasitic diseases (Cooper, 1984;Kaminjolo et al, 1988;Piasecki, 2006;Lallo et al, 2012). Infections of domestic pigeons with helminths and coccidia have been reported in several regions of the world, such as in Turkey (Özkul and Aydin, 1994), Spain (Abreu-Acosta et al, 2009;Cano-Terriza et al, 2015), India (Gupta et al, 2011) and Iran (Radfar et al, 2012). In addition, infection with South and North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania (Nakamura and Meireles, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First description of Cryptosporidium parvum in carrier pigeons ( Columba livia )

Oliveira

Ferrari

Panegossi

et al. 2017

Veterinary Parasitology

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The carrier pigeon and the domestic pigeon are different breeds of the species Columba livia. Carrier pigeons are used for recreational activities such as bird contests and exhibitions. Due to the close contact with humans, these birds may potentially represent a public health risk, since they can host and disseminate zoonotic parasites, such as those belonging to the genus Cryptosporidium (phylum Apicomplexa). The purpose of this work was the detection by microscopic and molecular techniques of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in fecal samples of carrier pigeons, and subsequently to sequence the 18S ribosomal RNA marker of positive samples to identify the species. A total of 100 fecal samples were collected individually in two pigeon breeding facilities from Formiga and Araçatuba, cities located in Minas Gerais state and São Paulo state, Brazil, respectively. The age of the birds ranged from one to 12 years; 56 were females and 44 males. Fecal smears were stained with negative malachite green, whereas the molecular characterization was based on the sequence of a ∼800bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Microscopic examination of fecal smears revealed 4% (4/100) oocyst positivity. On the other hand, 7% (7/100) of positivity were found using nested PCR. Three samples were 99% to 100% similar to Cryptosporidium parvum 18S rDNA type A (Genbank AH006572) and the other three samples had 99% to 100% similarity to C. parvum 18S rDNA type B (Genbank AF308600). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. parvum oocysts in carrier pigeons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First description of Cryptosporidium parvum in carrier pigeons ( Columba livia )

Oliveira

Ferrari

Panegossi

et al. 2017

Veterinary Parasitology

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“…Due to perceived little importance of pigeons, little attention in terms of research has been directed towards the species. In many regions of the world, it has been reported that internal and external parasites and infections are common in pigeons (Senlik et al, 2005;Marques et al, 2007;Bunbury et al, 2008;Abreu-Acosta et al, 2009). Information on the parasitic infection of domesticated pigeons in different regions of Iran appears to be relatively little concerned with few published papers and presented mainly as conference proceedings or papers only about a single parasitic species (Youssefi et al, 2010;Pirali-Kheirabadi et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Biodiversity and prevalence of parasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in a selected semiarid zone of South Khorasan, Iran

Radfar

Asl

Seghinsara

et al. 2011

Trop Anim Health Prod

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Five species of nematodes and cestodes were collected from alimentary canals of pigeons: the nematodes were two species: Ascaridia colombae (16.66%) and Hadjelia truncata (1.96%), while the cestodes were Cotugnia digonopora (13.79%), Raillietina magninumida (18.62%) and Raillietina achinobothridia (32.35%); fecal examination revealed: Eimeria spp. (40.19%) and Cryptosporidium oocysts (2.94%); and blood smears showed: Haemoproteus cloumbae (47/05%); in mouth, throat and larynx: Trichomonans gallinae (57.84%); four species of ectoparasites were collected from feathers and subcutaneous nodules as follows: feathers: Pseudolynchia canariensis (63.72%), Columbicola columbae (79.41%), Menopen gallinea (44.11%); subcutaneous nodules: Laminosioptes cysticola (1.96%). From the parasitic fauna identified in this study, it is imperative to institute an integrated parasitic control through constant changing of litter, regular use of antihelminthics, anticoccidials and dusting of birds with pesticides.

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“…Within wild animals, much effort has been dedicated to investigating parasite burden in birds because of their potential for pathogen dispersal, with some avian parasites being highly pathogenic to humans, for example avian influenza, West Nile virus, chlamydiosis and cryptosporidiosis (Kurt et al, 2003;Dhama et al, 2008;Abreu-Acosta et al, 2009). Emerging diseases can have a severe impact on bird species and populations (Robinson et al, 2010), a problem that is particularly pronounced for taxa with restricted distributions, such as endemic land bird species inhabiting oceanic islands (van Riper et al, 1986;Carrete et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unforeseen biogeographical patterns in a multiple parasite system in Macaronesia

Illera

Fernández-Álvarez

Hernández-Flores

et al. 2015

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Understanding the reasons why hosts lose, maintain or swap their parasite burden after colonizing new areas has long intrigued island biogeographers. Using molecular markers, we evaluated parasite biogeography of a multiple parasite system of Apicomplexa protozoans (haemosporidian and coccidian parasites) showing different modes of transmission in the spectacled warbler (Sylvia conspicillata), a small passerine with recently founded populations in Macaronesia.Location Twelve oceanic islands of three Macaronesian archipelagos (Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde) and two continental areas (the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco).Methods We amplified and sequenced fragments of the parasite mitochondrial genome (cytochrome b for haemosporidian and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I for coccidian parasites) to determine the prevalence, richness, diversity and associations between groups of pathogens from the continental sources to the Macaronesian islands. We also built a haplotype network for the coccidian parasites to obtain insights on their evolutionary history. ResultsWe did not find a significant reduction in parasite diversity in the Macaronesian islands compared with the mainland. The prevalence was higher in Macaronesia for both parasite groups than on the mainland, although it was only significant for the haemosporidian parasites. The haplotype network revealed an unexpectedly strong differentiation in the coccidia, with a similar structure to the haplotype topology previously found in the host.Main conclusions Oceanic islands provide model systems for disentangling geographical origins, colonization pathways, and diversification of avian hosts through analysis of parasites. We show that analysis of coccidians, which closely track the evolutionary history of their avian hosts, may illuminate co-speciation processes in both groups. Our results show that coccidian populations in Macaronesia are highly structured but fail to provide support for the predicted impoverishment of parasite assemblages on islands.

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Occurrence of Cryptosporidium hominis in pigeons (Columba livia)

Abstract: This study demonstrated the presence of Cryptosporidium hominis in pigeons for the first time. Previously, C. hominis had been cited only in another bird species, Branta canadiensis. The present findings suggest that pigeons may act as mechanical vectors for this protozoan.

Cited by 24 publications

References 30 publications

First description of Cryptosporidium parvum in carrier pigeons ( Columba livia )

First description of Cryptosporidium parvum in carrier pigeons ( Columba livia )

Biodiversity and prevalence of parasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in a selected semiarid zone of South Khorasan, Iran

Unforeseen biogeographical patterns in a multiple parasite system in Macaronesia

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