Pigeons, often kept for fun or competition, can harbor a surprising number of intestinal parasites. These worms, including nematodes and cestodes, pose a threat not just to the birds but also to local wildlife and even humans. To tackle this issue, a close look was taken at the prevalence of these parasites in pigeons from Zabol County, Iran. The goal was to understand the extent of the problem and find ways to prevent and treat these infections.

Over the course of a year, from 2021 to 2022, 220 pigeons were examined. These birds were grouped based on various factors like gender, breed, age, medication, and diet. The focus was on their digestive tracts, where parasites tend to lurk. The contents were carefully scraped and washed to collect any worms present. Various techniques were used to isolate, observe, and identify these parasites.

The findings were quite revealing. Out of the 220 samples, 96 tested positive for helminth infections, which is about 43. 63%. Among these, 52 pigeons had only cestode infections, 14 had nematode infections, and 31 had both. The specific types of nematodes found included Heterakis gallinarum, Eulimdana clava, Hadjelia truncate, and Ascaridia columbae. As for cestodes, the species identified were Raillietina tetragona, Raillietina echinobothrida, Raillietina cesticillus, Raillietina magninumida, and Cotugnia digonopora.

The study also found a significant link between helminth infections and the use of medication. Additionally, the age of the pigeons played a role in the prevalence of these infections. Interestingly, despite the hot and dry climate in Zabol, the prevalence of these parasites was quite high. This highlights the need for a robust control program to prevent the spread of these parasites not only among pigeons but also to the local bird population.

Pigeon Parasites: A Hidden Health Risk in Zabol

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