Prevalence of coccidia in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica Gmelin, 1789) in Benghazi city, Libya

Abstract

Pigeon coccidiosis is caused by Eimeria spp; a protozoan parasite which limits birds’ productivity by causing severe illness. The current study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of coccidiosis on domestic pigeon in Libya. Intestinal contents of 100 pigeons (Columba livia domestica Gmelin, 1789) were collected within a period of five months; January to May 2020. The intestinal content was examined to detect of coccidian oocysts infection on the randomly selected birds. A total of 100 faecal samples were investigated with two methods;Willis-Schaafs (qualitative) and McMaster’s (quantitative). The results obtained showed that the number of infected Pigeons was 72 pigeons (72%) of the total number of Pigeons. The prevalence was higher in female than that of males, where the total of infected females was 50 (69.4 %) and infected males was 22 (30.6%). The results showed that the highest incidence of Eimeria labbeana was observed in the young pigeons than that of adults, where the total number of young pigeons was 66 (91.7 %), and adult pigeon was 6 (8.3 %).

Nematode and Coccidia Infections in Singing Birds Kept in Bird Stalls

“…Previous studies have shown that the incidence of coccidia infection in birds varies. Incidence of coccidia in birds in Libya was found at 72% [18], whereas the lower incidence of coccidia infection (16%) was reported in Surabaya, Indonesia [19]. In this study, 28 out of 94 (30%) were positive for coccidial oocysts.…”

Morphology, morphometry, and phylogeny of the protozoan parasite, Eimeria labbeana-like (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae), infecting Columba livia domestica

“…When comparing the oocysts detected in the present study with the group of E. labbeana species previously described from the Columbidae, the following findings can be made: (i) The oocyst studied in this study, or those from Australia, was far from the type locality of E. labbeana . (ii) The morphometric data of the oocysts showed variation in the size of the oocysts which were larger than that described by Nieschulz ( 12 ), Joseph et al ( 46 ), Aboelhadid et al ( 52 ), Al-Agouri et al ( 53 ), and Oliveira et al ( 30 ). (iii) The oocyst shape of E. labbeana was spherical to subspherical except for those described by Pinto ( 18 ), Nieschulz ( 12 ), Aboelhadid et al ( 52 ), and Oliveira et al ( 30 ) who highlighted the polymorphic nature of the oocysts, which could be sub-spherical and/or ellipsoidal.…”

“…(iv) There was no micropyle except for those identified by Pinto ( 18 ) and Oliveira et al ( 30 ). (v) There was no oocyst residuum except for those described by Al-Agouri et al ( 53 ).…”

“…Even though they were from two different and distant localities and they were similar in morphology and morphometry except for the presence of oocyst residuum in the oocysts of Yang et al ( 19 ). All other descriptions of E. labbeana did not show oocyst residuum except for those descriptions from Yang et al ( 19 ) and Al-Agouri et al ( 53 ). Both Yang et al ( 19 ) and Al-Agouri et al ( 53 ) in their description of E. labbeana -like or E. labbeana mentioned the presence of oocyst residuum, however, the oocyst residuum was inconspicuous in their photographs which may probably be an artifact.…”

“…Researchers used different criteria to identify eimerian species excreted in the droppings of pigeons including the morphology and morphometry of oocysts, pre-and patent periods, and sporulation time (5,11,13,19,29,51,52). Based on morphology, it has been confirmed that E. labbeana-like is infecting pigeons in a commercial poultry farm in Riyadh area (Saudi Arabia).…”