अमूर्त

Prevalence of helminthic and protozoan infections in pigeons- in and around Hyderabad of Telangana state.

Sudhakar Kommu, Rajeshwari G, Sreenivasamurthy GS

The present study was undertaken to observe the overall helminthic and protozoan infection of pigeons in and around Hyderabad city. Out of 370 fecal samples screened 90 samples were found positive for helminthic infection (24.3%), among these cestode infections has highest percent 15.1 (56/370) followed by nematode infection 9.1% (34/370) and protozoan infection is 32.7% (121/370). The percent infection, species wise are Raillietina sp. is 7.0% (26/370), Davainea sp. is 8.1% (30/370) Capillaria sp. is 4.32% (16/370) and Ascardia sp. is 4.86% (18/370). The percent of protozoan i.e., Eimeria infection (unsporulated oocyst) is 32.7% (121/370) and 12.59% of Haemoproteus columbae gamonts infection in stained blood smear (17/135). This concludes that the overall incidence of helminthic infection in pigeons is high because of migratory behavior and it is alarming the epidemiologists that scenario of migratory birds contributing significantly to the spread of parasitic diseases, a better understanding of their role in the disease epidemiology has to be gained by implementing surveillance and tracking strategies.