Selection of a suitable reference gene for gene-expression studies in Trichomonas gallinae under various biotic and abiotic stress conditions.

Trichomonas gallinae, a globally distributed protozoan parasite, significantly affects the pigeon-breeding industry. T. gallinae infection mainly causes yellow ulcerative nodules on the upper respiratory tract and crop mucosa of pigeons, impeding normal breathing and feeding and ultimately causing death. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a crucial technique for gene-expression analysis in molecular biology. Reference-gene selection for normalization is critical for ensuring this technique's accuracy. However, no systematic screening or validation of T. gallinae reference genes has been reported. This study quantified the transcript levels of ten candidate reference genes in T. gallinae isolates with different genotypes and culture conditions using qPCR. Using the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithms, we assessed these reference genes' stabilities and ranked them using RankAggreg analysis. The most stable reference gene was tubulin beta chain (TUBB), while the widely used reference genes TUBG and GAPDH demonstrated poor stability. Additionally, we evaluated these candidate reference genes' stabilities using the T. gallinae TgaAtg8 gene. On using TUBB as a reference gene, TgaAtg8's expression profiles in T. gallinae isolates with different genotypes remained relatively consistent under various culture conditions. Conversely, using ACTB as a reference gene distorted the data. These findings provide valuable reference-gene-selection guidance for functional gene research and gene-expression analysis in T. gallinae.

Finding a needle in a haystack: DNA Haemoproteus columbae enrichment using percoll density gradient and flow cytometry.

Isolation of genomic DNA of blood parasites in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes is a challenging task, given that their red blood cells are nucleated; for that reason, parasite genomic DNA is only a fraction of the total extracted DNA, and it is challenging to obtain concentrated high-quality genetic material. Percoll Density Gradient (PDG) and flow cytometry are tools for separating and analyzing cell populations or even a single cell, and both represent potent approaches for isolating avian haemosporidians parasites. Our experimental design included several steps seeking to concentrate the parasite´s DNA. We used blood samples from a Rock pigeon infected with Haemoproteus columbae. After inducing parasite exflagellation and gametogenesis in vitro, we subjected the samples to a Percoll Density Gradient to separate the parasites from the rest of the blood cells. Following centrifugation, the layer containing extracellular parasites underwent a flow cytometry and cell sorting process, during which we selected two different subpopulations of cells for analysis. Based on qPCR analyses, we demonstrate parasite DNA enrichment in Percoll Density Gradient and flow cytometry samples; simultaneously, these samples showed the lowest concentration of Columba livia DNA. However, the concentration of parasite DNA was higher in the PDG than in the cell sorting sample. This study reports the concentration of the Haemoproteus parasite by flow cytometry without DNA-intercalating dyes, and this methodology can serve as a technique for DNA enrichment of blood parasites infecting nucleated red blood cells to improve techniques that allow obtaining complete genomes.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Trichomonas gallinae from pigeons in Anhui, China.

Trichomonas gallinae, a protozoan parasite causing avian trichomonosis, exhibits a widespread global prevalence. It primarily affects the upper digestive tract of birds and has resulted in significant ecological problems worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypes of T. gallinae in Anhui Province, China. A total of 1612 oropharyngeal swab samples were collected from pigeon farms in Anhui Province to determine the prevalence of T. gallinae infection. The results revealed 565 (35.1%) positive samples of T. gallinae. Significant differences in infection rates were observed among different regions and age groups. Furthermore, the ITS1/5.8 S/ITS2 region was amplified, sequenced, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Genotypes A and B of T. gallinae were identified, and genotype B was the dominant genotype in Anhui Province. This is the first report on the prevalence and molecular characterization of T. gallinae in Anhui Province, China. Additionally, we integrated reports on the prevalence and genotype of T. gallinae in relevant provinces in China.

Distribution of phoretic mites and lice in Pseudolynchia canariensis living on pigeons and the relationship with seasonality, carrier sex, plumage coloration and age of definitive hosts.

Among the parasites, some groups that have a limited capacity for locomotion, such as mites and lice, the transmission is challenging to win. These ectoparasites disperse through direct contact between hosts or, in some cases, through phoresy. However, these processes are not well-documented in detail because they are difficult to observe and quantify. In the present study, the patterns of distribution of skin mites and phoretic lice on hippoboscid louse fly Pseudolynchia canariensis sampled from Columba livia were evaluated. The analyzed pigeons were juveniles and adults, with three distinct plumage colors: blue checker, spread, or wild type, and were caught over 24 months. A total of 1,381 hippoboscid flies were collected on 377 hosts. The plumage color did not influence the infestation patterns of louse flies on juvenile and adult pigeons, nor did it influence the infestation patterns of skin mites and phoretic lice on the hippoboscid flies. However, the environmental temperature was directly related to higher prevalence, mean infestation intensity, and phoretic species richness on P. canariensis during the hottest seasons. Furthermore, a higher abundance of phoretic mite eggs, including embryonated eggs, was observed in females of P. canariensis in all seasons.

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ORNITHOSTRONGYLUS QUADRIRADIATUS ISOLATED FROM A RACING PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA).

An infestation of Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, has been found in a racing pigeon Columba livia domestica). In addition, this individual had a mild infection with Trichomonas spp. and Eimeria spp. The bird showed symptoms of increased appetite; unformed, dark- green feces; and lack of typical male behavior, but the general condition of this pigeon was good. The pigeon was euthanized because of a permanent inability to fly due to an injury to the wing. A postmortem examination revealed the presence of very small dark-pink twisted nematodes with the morphology of O. quadriradiatus in the small intestine, mainly the duodenum. Histopathology showed segmental inflammatory changes in the intestines caused by both blood-sucking nematodes and Eimeria spp. The 5.8S ribosomal ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction amplicons from deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from O. quadriradiatus had 82.40% identity with Australostrongylus victoriensis and 81.20% with Travassostrongylus spp. This is the first molecular characterization of O. quadriradiatus-a relatively rare pigeon parasite.

PHEROMONE COMMUNICATION IN FEATHER-FEEDING WING LICE (INSECTA: PHTHIRAPTERA).

Pheromone communication is central to the life history of insect parasites. Determining how pheromones affect parasite behavior can provide insights into host-parasite interactions and suggest novel avenues for parasite control. Lice infest thousands of bird and mammal species and feed on the host's feathers or blood. Despite the pervasiveness of lice in wild populations and the costs they exact on livestock and poultry industries, little is known about pheromone communication in this diverse group. Here, we test for pheromone communication in the wing lice (Columbicola columbae) of Rock Doves (Columba livia). Wing lice spend the majority of their lives on bird flight feathers where they hide from host preening by inserting their bodies between coarse feather barbs. To feed, wing lice must migrate to bird body regions where they consume the insulating barbs of contour feathers. We first show that wing lice readily form aggregations on flight feathers. Next, using a Y-tube olfactometer, we demonstrate that wing lice use pheromone communication to move toward groups of nearby conspecifics. This pheromone is likely an aggregation pheromone, as wing lice only produce the pheromone when placed on flight feathers. Finally, we found that when forced to choose between groups of male and female lice, male lice move toward male groups and females toward female groups, suggesting the use of multiple pheromones. Ongoing work aims to determine the chemical identity and function of these pheromones.

Parasite exchange and hybridisation at a wild-feral-domestic interface.

Interactions between wild, feral, and domestic animals are of economic and conservation significance. The pigeon Columba livia is a synanthropic species in a feral form, but it also includes the rare Rock Dove. Columba livia is an important player at the wild-domestic interface, acting as a carrier of avian diseases, and the feral form threatens Rock Doves with extinction via hybridisation. Despite its abundance, little is known about drivers of disease prevalence in C. livia, or how disease and hybridisation represent synergistic threats to Rock Doves. We focused on infection by the parasite Trichomonas, first collating prevalence estimates in domestic and free-living populations from relevant studies of C. livia. Second, we characterised variation in the diversity and prevalence of Trichomonas among three C. livia populations in the United Kingdom: a feral, a Rock Dove, and a feral-wild hybrid population. Across multiple continents, free-living pigeons had lower Trichomonas infection than captive conspecifics, but the effect was weak. Environmental factors which could impact Trichomonas infection status did not explain variation in infection among populations. Among the British populations, strain diversity varied, and there was lower parasite prevalence in Rock Doves than feral pigeons. Individual infection status was not explained by the available covariates, including hybrid score and site. The drivers of Trichomonas prevalence are unclear, perhaps due to idiosyncratic local-scale drivers. However, given the population-level variation in both infection prevalence and introgressive hybridisation, the potential combined effects could accelerate the extinction of the Rock Dove. Further study of the synergistic effects of multiple types of biotic interactions at the wild-feral-domestic interface is warranted, especially where vagile, globally distributed and superabundant animals are involved.

DOES PREENING BEHAVIOR REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF AVIAN FEATHER LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA: ISCHNOCERA)?

Animals defend themselves against parasites in many ways. Defenses, such as physiological immune responses, are capable of clearing some infections. External parasites that do not feed on blood, however, are not controlled by the physiological immune system. Instead, ectoparasites like feather-feeding lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) are primarily controlled by behavioral defenses such as preening. Here we test the hypothesis that birds able to preen are capable of clearing infestations of feather lice. We experimentally manipulated preening ability in a captive population of rock pigeons (Columba livia) that were infested with identical numbers of feather lice (Columbicola columbae or Campanulotes compar or both). We then monitored the feather louse infestations for 42 wk. Birds with impaired preening remained infested throughout the experiment; in contrast, the prevalence of lice on birds that could preen normally decreased by 50%. These data indicate that it is indeed possible for birds to clear themselves of feather lice, and perhaps other ectoparasites, by preening. We note, however, that captive birds spend more time preening than wild birds, and that they are less likely to be reinfested than wild birds. Thus, additional studies are necessary to determine under what circumstances wild birds can clear themselves of ectoparasites by preening.

Morphology and morphometry of Paratanaisia bragai () Freitas, 1959 (Digenea, Eucotylidae) through light and scanning electron microscopy.

Paratanaisia bragai is a digenetic trematode that reaches sexual maturity in the kidney collecting ducts of domestic and wild birds, while the snails Subulina octona and Leptinaria unilamellata serve as its intermediate hosts in Brazil. The present study analyzed the morphology and morphometry of P. bragai. Adult specimens of the parasite were collected from naturally infected Columba livia kidneys, fixed and prepared for observation via bright field and differential interference contrast light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The parasite has an elongated and flattened body, with a subterminal oral sucker located at the anterior end of the body, as observed by all techniques used. Staining the parasite with hematoxylin-eosin enabled observation of the pharynx, located posteriorly to the oral sucker, the vitelline glands, which are extra-cecal and extend anteriorly to the pre-ovarian region and later to the median region of the body, and intestinal caeca parallel to the vitelline glands. The presence and functionality of the acetabulum are controversial points in the literature, but it was observed in all specimens analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, with a major diameter of 38.36 ± 6.96 (28.77 - 45.39) and minor diameter of 31.59 ± 7.04 (21.75 - 38.16). Close to the acetabulum, scales were observed in the integument of the parasite. Scales with (1 - 5) blade divisions were identified. In the genital pore, it was possible to see the everted cirrus with rosette shape. The excretory pore (first morphometric record) is dorsal and subterminal, with major diameter of 12.27 ± 9.16 (5.79 - 18.75) and minor diameter of 3.95 ± 1.49 (2.89 - 5.00).

Pigeon mite: An underdiagnosed cause of papular urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Dermanyssus gallinae, known as bird mite, generally lives on nestlings' featherless skin. Humans are accidentally infected, and itchy dermatitis is induced when the mites are unable to use birds' blood. The diagnosis is difficult due to the very small size and rapid movement of the mites, which make them hard to spot. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old male and his mother were referred to the allergy clinic complaining of a 2-week generalized itchy cutaneous papular lesion, unresponsive to antihista-mines, with the feeling of an insect moving on the surface of the skin. Due to the history of recently hatched pigeons nesting on their balcony and finding very small bugs, diagnosed as D. gallinae, they were instructed to clean the pigeon's nest as the source of these parasites, which successfully solved the problem. CONCLUSION: Bird mite infestation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent pruritus and urticaria, refractory to conventional treatments. Physicians should be aware of this mite infestation in approach to any patient with papular urticaria.

Pigeon mite: An underdiagnosed cause of papular urticaria

Background: Dermanyssus gallinae, known as bird mite, generally lives on nestlings’ featherless skin. Humans are accidentally infected, and itchy dermatitis is induced when the mites are unable to use birds’ blood. The diagnosis is difficult due to the very small size and rapid movement of the mites, which make them hard to spot. Case presentation: A 14-year-old male and his mother were referred to the allergy clinic complaining of a 2-week generalized itchy cutaneous papular lesion, unresponsive to antihista-mines, with the feeling of an insect moving on the surface of the skin. Due to the history of recently hatched pigeons nesting on their balcony and finding very small bugs, diagnosed as D. gallinae, they were instructed to clean the pigeon’s nest as the source of these parasites, which successfully solved the problem. Conclusion: Bird mite infestation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent pruritus and urticaria, refractory to conventional treatments. Physicians should be aware of this mite infestation in approach to any patient with papular urticaria (AU)

Low parasite infestations in high densities: The paradox of woodpigeons in urban areas.

The type of habitat occupied by avian populations has a marked effect on the parasitises they host. The growth of cities and urban areas in recent decades has favoured some species of birds adapted to these types of habitats - urban exploiters - although the effects of urbanisation on the parasitism of wildlife are not always well known. This study compares the ectoparasites characteristic of two differentiated populations of woodpigeons, one located in a predominantly urban environment and the other in a rural one. Most of the species found were chewing lice, with Columbicola claviformis and Campanulotes bidentatus being dominant. Despite the higher density of the urban population, woodpigeon individuals were characterised by a lower abundance of chewing lice, as well as the presence of ectoparasites typical of feral pigeons such as Hohorstiella lata and the hippoboscids fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis. Similarly, birds with lower weights showed a higher parasitic load, which became more noticeable in urban woodpigeons. The lower ectoparasite load of urban hosts represents a health advantage compared with rural populations, which could be one of the causes of greater growth and reproductive success in urban populations of woodpigeons.

A novel one-step multiplex PCR protocol to detect avian haemosporidian parasites in the subgenus Haemoproteus (Kruse, 1890) used to quantify parasite prevalence in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in Turkey.

Infections of avian haemosporidian parasites are regularly identified by molecular methods including multiplex PCR, which allows researchers to distinguish mixed infections of parasites from multiple genera. Here we extend the utility of a previously designed multiplex PCR by designing a primer set specific to parasites of the subgenus Haemoproteus (genus: Haemoproteus). The updated one-step multiplex PCR protocol we describe here allows for the detection of the genera Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon and the two subgenera (Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus) of the genus Haemoproteus. A sensitivity analysis showed that the multiplex PCR could amplify DNA of parasites in the subgenus Haemoproteus at very low levels of infection. We used this multiplex PCR to identify haemosporidian infections in 250 adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in Turkey. All samples were also screened by microscopy and a widely used nested PCR to compare with the results of multiplex PCR, to detect low levels of parasitemia, and to identify possible abortive infections. In total, 71 pigeons (28.4%) were found to be infected by all three methods. The multiplex PCR protocol successfully detected and discriminated both subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus infections. We compared our results with previous host species records to assess the host specificity of the parasite lineages we found. Our findings provide novel data on the prevalence of avian haemosporidians in domestic pigeons and demonstrate the utility of the new one-step multiplex PCR protocol for the determination of mixed avian haemosporidian infections. We expect that this protocol will contribute to a better understanding of the distribution, epizootiology, and ecology of avian haemosporidians.

Evidence for strain-specific virulence of Trichomonas gallinae in African columbiformes.

Infection by parasites or pathogens can have marked physiological impacts on individuals. In birds, infection may affect moult and feather growth, which is an energetically demanding time in the annual cycle. Previous work has suggested a potential link between clinically visible Trichomonas gallinae infection and wing length in turtle doves Streptopelia turtur arriving on breeding grounds. First, T. gallinae infection was characterized in 149 columbids from 5 species, sampled on turtle dove wintering grounds in Senegal during the moulting period, testing whether infection by T. gallinae is linked to moult. Trichomonas gallinae prevalence was 100%, so rather than testing for differences between infected and uninfected birds, we tested for differences in moult progression between birds infected by different T. gallinae strains. Twelve strains of T. gallinae were characterized at the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)/5.8S/ITS2 region, of which 6 were newly identified within this study. In turtle doves only, evidence for differences in wing length by strain was found, with birds infected by strain Tcl-1 having wings nearly 6 mm longer than those infected with strain GEO. No evidence was found for an effect of strain identity within species on moult progression, but comparisons between infected and uninfected birds should be further investigated in species where prevalence is lower.

Trichomonas gallinae induces heterophil extracellular trap formation in pigeons.

Avian trichomonosis is a worldwide and cross-species epidemic, and the infection in pigeons is particularly severe. Although the disease causes a serious threat to poultry health resulting in significant economic losses, the relationship between Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae) and host innate immunity is still not clear. Extracellular traps (ETs) are an innate immunity response to parasitic infections. However, whether host cells can produce ETs after T. gallinae infection has not yet been reported. In the present study, the ability of T. gallinae to induce the production of heterophil extracellular traps (HETs) in pigeons was examined. T. gallinae-induced HETs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the main components of HETs were detected by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were tested during the HETosis. A quantitative analysis of T. gallinae-induced HETs, the role of myeloperoxidase (MPO), store-operated Ca (2+) entry (SOCE), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase in T. gallinae-induced HET formation were conducted by inhibitor assays. The results showed that T. gallinae induced ET formation in pigeon heterophils. ETs consisted of a DNA skeleton, neutrophil elastase (NE), MPO, and Histone3 (H3). T. gallinae-induced HETs formation in a dose- and time-dependent process. The release of T. gallinae-induced HETs depends on MPO, SOCE, and NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, after T. gallinae stimulated pigeon heterophils, ROS production was significantly increased, while no significant differences in the LDH activity were observed.

Detection and molecular characterization of Trichomonas gallinae recovered from domestic pigeons in Egypt.

Trichomonas gallinae is a protozoan parasite that causes canker in pigeons. Squabs (young pigeons) are frequently infected with T. gallinae and can die because of the infection, while adult pigeons can act as carriers showing no clinical signs. In the present study, 50 squabs, up to 1-month-old, were purchased from pigeon markets in different regions of the Giza governorate, Egypt. Direct wet mount preparations of the oral excretions of the squabs (mouth wash) and Giemsa staining revealed that 64% (32/50) were positive for T. gallinae. Experimental infection of ten squabs with 103 T. gallinae trophozoites/ml resulted in oral lesions on the mouth, tongue, and soft palate, with the presence of yellowish-white nodules (cheese-like) in the oral cavity on the sixth day post-infection in all squabs. A subset of five samples were cultured in modified Diamond's media, their DNA was extracted, and a portion of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1/5.8S/ITS2) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the five isolates revealed 64-91% homology with some reference isolates circulating in Egypt and related countries.

Prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites in Wild Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) in Punjab region, Pakistan / Prevalência e diversidade de ectoparasitas em Wild Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) na região de Punjab, Paquistão

The current study was carried out to estimate the prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites in rock pigeons in different regions of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 120 birds were captured from March 2017 to February 2019. The ectoparasites were collected by standard procedures and preserved in 70% ethanol containing one drop of glycerin. Data related to age, health status, sex, type of area, sampling location and season were collected using a standardized form. Ectoparasites were identified based on morphological characteristics by using identification keys. Ninety-six (80%) birds were infested with ectoparasites. A total of seven families and thirteen species of different ectoparasites were observed. Mainly, seven species of lice, two species of flies, one species of tick and three species of mites were recovered from infested birds. The female pigeons were more often infested (89.02%) than male pigeons (60.52%). The prevalence was found higher during summer (100%) as compared to other seasons. The infestation rate was higher in Industrial area (97.50%) as compared to other regions. The highest prevalence of ectoparasites (100%) was recorded from Sargodha district. There was significant (P < 0.05) variation among number of ectoparasites on wing, chest, tail and neck within age groups, seasons and ecological zones. The occurrence of parasites in relation to area, age, health status, sex and season were significant. The infestation rate of parasites in rock pigeon is high in different districts of Punjab. It is recommended that these wild birds infested with multiple species of ectoparasites could be the potential source of infestations in domesticated birds if they come in contact with them. The contact of domesticated birds should be prevented from wild birds to minimize the chance of cross species transmission of ectoparasites.

O presente estudo foi realizado para estimar a prevalência e diversidade de ectoparasitas em pombos-das-rochas em diferentes regiões de Punjab, Paquistão. Um total de 120 aves foram capturadas de março de 2017 a fevereiro de 2019. Os ectoparasitas foram coletados por procedimentos padrão e preservados em etanol 70% contendo uma gota de glicerina. Os dados relativos à idade, estado de saúde, sexo, tipo de área, local de amostragem e época do ano foram coletados em formulário padronizado. Os ectoparasitas foram identificados com base nas características morfológicas por meio de chaves de identificação. Noventa e seis (80%) aves estavam infestadas com ectoparasitas. Um total de sete famílias e treze espécies de diferentes ectoparasitas foram observados. Principalmente, sete espécies de piolhos, duas espécies de moscas, uma espécie de carrapato e três espécies de ácaros foram recuperadas de aves infestadas. Os pombos fêmeas foram infestados mais frequentemente (89,02%) do que os pombos machos (60,52%). A prevalência encontrada foi maior no verão (100%) em comparação com as outras estações. A taxa de infestação foi maior na área Industrial (97,50%) em relação às demais regiões. A maior prevalência de ectoparasitas (100%) foi registrada no distrito de Sargodha. Houve variação significativa (P <0,05) entre o número de ectoparasitas na asa, tórax, cauda e pescoço dentro das faixas etárias, estações do ano e zonas ecológicas. A ocorrência de parasitas em relação à área, idade, estado de saúde, sexo e estação do ano foi significativa. A taxa de infestação de parasitas em pombo-correio é alta em diferentes distritos de Punjab. Recomenda-se que essas aves selvagens infestadas com várias espécies de ectoparasitas possam ser a fonte potencial de infestações em aves domesticadas se entrarem em contato com elas. O contato de aves domesticadas deve ser evitado com aves selvagens para minimizar a chance de transmissão cruzada de ectoparasitas.

A Comparative Study of Parasitic Infections in Domestic and Wild Pigeons in Iraq.

Parasitic infections in pigeons are very important due to their adaptability to different environmental conditions, as well as their relationship with human society. In this study, 250 samples of domestic and wild pigeons (Columba livia) were collected from different areas in Samawah, Al-Muthanna province, Iraq, from March 2020 to January 2021. Clinical examination of external parasites was conducted by screening fecal samples for intestinal parasitic infections and preparing direct swabs from the beaks. Out of the 250 pigeon samples (125 domestic and 125 wild pigeons), 65 pigeons were found infected (26%), including 40 domestic (32%) and 25 wild pigeons (20%) (P≤0.05). The results showed that these parasitic infections belong to three major groups of bird parasites: 1) Protozoa, such as Eimeria species (spp.) oocyst, Cryptosporidium spp., and Trichomonas gallinae, with prevalence rates of 21 (16.8%), 14 (11.2%), 19 (15.2%), 11(8.8%), 7 (5.6%), and 2 (1.6%), 2) Helminths, such as cestodes (Raillietina tetragona) and nematodes (Ascaridia columbae) with prevalence rates of 5 (4%), 4 (3.2%), 4 (3.2%), and 2 (1.6%), as well as Arthropods, including lice (Menacanthus stramineus) with prevalence rates of 5 (4%) and 3 (2.4%) in domestic and wild pigeons, respectively. Additionally, no significant difference was found between male and female pigeons in their infection rate (P≤0.05). The findings also revealed that the highest percentage of infection in both genders of domestic and wild pigeons was caused by one spp. of parasites (62.5% and 64% in domestic and wild pigeons, respectively), followed by two spp. (24% and 27.5% in domestic and wild pigeons, respectively), and three spp. of parasites (10% and 12% in domestic and wild pigeons, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between domestic and wild pigeons regarding their infections with one, two, or three spp. of parasites (P≤0.05). It is thus concluded that differences in the prevalence of these parasites in different regions are partly due to differences in nutrition, feeding habits, and geographical environment.

Molecular Identification of Newly Recorded Louse Columbicola tschulyschman Eichler (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) From Saudi Arabia With a Note on Genus Columbicola spp. Phylogeny.

Chewing lice comprise a large group of ectoparasites that colonize and adversely affect several domestic and wild birds including pigeons. In Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of studies describing such ectoparasites and their infestation rates. Through this work, a new record, Columbicola, tschulyschman Eichler (C. tschulyschman Eichler) was collected from domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica, Linnaeus). The collected C. tschulyschman Eichler was morphologically identified based on specific taxonomic keys. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (EF-1α) gene fragments were used for molecular identification and phylogenetic reconstruction. In this study, the C. tschulyschman Eichler accounted for around 69.40%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. tschulyschman Eichler in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To improve the tree topology and differentiate between genera, further studies should utilize the 16s rRNA.

Prevalence and diversity of Trichomonas gallinae in meat pigeons (Columba livia) in Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.

Pigeon farming for meat has developed into an important economic industry in most countries, especially in China. Trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae, is a worldwide disease in pigeons. However, studies of the prevalence and distribution of T. gallinae lineages in domestic pigeons in southern China are limited. In this study, a total of 636 pigeon throat swabs samples from four regions in Guangdong Province were screened for T. gallinae by in vitro culture assays and microscopy. The results revealed an overall prevalence of T. gallinae infection in southern China of 26.6% (169/636). There were significant differences in the infection rate of T. gallinae between the four regions (χ2 = 117.948, df = 4, P = 0.000), with up to 44.6% in the Pearl River Delta region. The infection rate of young pigeons was as high as 70.8%. The rDNA sequences (18S rRNA/ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2) of 153 positive samples were amplified and sequenced. Results identified 58.2% (89/153) overall as ITS-A (18S-VI) (also known as ITS-OBT-Tg-1) and 41.8% (64/153) as ITS-B (18S-IV) (also known as ITS-OBT-Tg-2). Thus, ITS-A (18S-VI) was the dominant T. gallinae genotype in southern China, especially in young pigeon (97.0%, 32/33). In conclusion, a high prevalence of T. gallinae infection in domestic pigeons was identified in southern China, particularly in the Pearl River Delta region. The ITS-A (18S-VI) was the dominant genotype highly pathogenic, which may weaken the immune system of pigeons, and cause a negative impact on the development of the pigeon industry in China.