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)

Some bacterial enteropathogens in wildlife and racing pigeons from Trinidad

Fecal and cloacal swabs or feces of wild mammalian, avian and reptilian species, either farmed or free-ranging, and of racing pigeons (Columba livia) kept in lofts were cultured for Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Yersinia spp. Of 291 free-ranging mammals tested 6 (2 percent) and 1 (< 1 percent) and 1 (< 1 percent) yielded positive culture of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp., respectively. Salmonella newport was the predominant serotype isolated and the opossum (Didelphis marsupialis insularis) had the significantly highest prevalence (29 percent) of Salmonella spp. infection compared to other species such as deer (Mazama americana trinitatis), lappe (Agouti paca), tattoo (Dasypus novemcinctus), agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), and wild hog (Tayassu tajacu). Among 14 species of farmed wildlife studied, 13 (7 percent) and 10 (5 percent) of 184 fecal or cloacal samples tested were positive for Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp., respectively. Salmonella javians accounted for 50 percent of the Salmonella spp. isolates and C. jejuni represented 90 percent of the Campylobacter spp. cultured. Only 1 (1 percent) of 124 cloacal swabs of free-flying avian species yielded Salmonella spp. compared to 21 (17 percent) samples positive for Campylobacter spp. Of 171 racing pigeons which originated from 8 fanciers, 8 (5 percent) yielded Salmonella spp. all of which were serotype typhimurium while only 1 (1 percent) were positive for Campylobacter spp. Seven (88 percent) of 8 Salmonella spp. isolates were recovered from one fancier. Yersina spp. was not cultured from any of the above samples. Although the prevalences of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in wildlife in Trinidad are low, the practice of wildlife farming and the increased consumption of meat from wildlife may increase the health risk to human consumers(AU)