Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites Infesting Domestic Pigeons with Histopathological Changes at Taif Governorate, KSA

THE present study aimed to detect the intestinal parasitic worms and protozoa and their association with intestinal pathological changes among different breed pigeons at Taif governorate. Two hundred and twelve pigeons from four different breeds (Pakistani, local, French, and Harami) were collected in the period from February to June 2022. Clinical examinations of 96 out of 212 pigeons showed emaciation, dullness, greenish to white in color droppings, and diarrhea. Results have shown a higher helminthic (cestodes and nematodes) prevalence rate in Pakistani breed (54.7%), local (26.4%), French (18.9%), and the least infection was detected in Harami breed (11.3%). Three species of cestodes were identified Raillietina echinobothrida (9.9 %), R. cesticillus (3.8%), and R. tetragona (1.4%). Three species of Nematodes Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, and Capillaria spp in percentage (7.5%), (3.8%), and (1.4%), respectively, were also identified. The most common protozoa detected were Cryptosporidium spp. (8.0%), Eimeria spp. (5.2%), and Amoeba spp. (4.2%). In addition, Mixed infections were found in 23(10.8%) of all examined pigeons. Histopathological findings in the intestine associated with helminthic and protozoal infestation were necrosis, desquamation of the lining epithelium in the villus crypt and glands, villi atrophy, and inflammatory cell infiltration, especially eosinophils. In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrated the prevalence of helminths and protozoa in the intestine of the main pigeon breeds in Taif governorate, associated with histopathological alternation. Therefore, future studies are needed to reduce avian parasitic transmission routes to livestock and the human population at Taif governorate.