The parasite fauna of two populations of feral pigeons from North and South Trinidad [abstract]

Two populations of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from two locations in Trinidad were examined for their internal and external parasites. Twenty-five birds were live-captured from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) while twenty were captured in San Fernando. Microscopic examination of blood smears for haemoparasites revealed that both populations had high infection rates of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus and relatively low infection rates of Toxoplasma. Examination of faecal samples revealed that a high proportion of birds were infected with with coccidia, reaching 100 percent in birds from the EWMSC. Other gastrointestinal parasites observed included Capillaria, Ascardia and termatodes. All birds from both localities had high burdens of lice, mite and pigeon fly infestations. The significnce of these results in relation to the role of wild pigeons as reservoirs of pathogens affecting the poultry industry and in the transmission of zoonotic diseases is discussed. (AU)

"New protozoal parasites" Causing diarrhoeal syndrome in humans

This article will serve as a medium to sensitize laboratory and medical personnel that these parasites do exist and that several diagnostic methods are presently available (at CAREC) for their detection(AU)