Study of Parasitic Infection and Its Histological Changes in a Bird

Purpose: To investigate the histopathological aspect of the tissue in pigeons infected with parasites. Materials and Methods: Pigeons were naturally infected with oocyst, worm ova and arthropod. This study was conducted from February to September 2013, on 125 (net trapped) wild pigeons living freely in the old obstructed tunnel (Rano) and rocks of Zakros Mountain, located on the road between Ilam and Aivan city, South West of Ilam province, Iran. Gizzard, liver, spleen, pancreas, esophagus, intestine, proventriculus, and tracheal glands were separated and preserved. Fresh fecal samples were examined and the Egg per gram was counted. Randomly, different tissues of 15 birds were collected and proceeded in Hematoxylin and Eosin for a histopathological study. The birds were checked for ectoparasites. Results: Degenerative changes in the epithelial tissues of the esophageal and proventriculus glands as well as destructive changes in the esophagus, duodenum and cecum of infected pigeons were evaluated. A massive congestion was seen in the tissue of pancreas and trachea. The prevalence of Raillietina spp, Tetramers, Syngamus, Capillaria, Ascaridia columbae, oocyst of protozoa, Phthiraptera, Ceratophyllus Columbae contamination and multiples infection were 29%, 5%, 8%, 15%, 4%, 8%, 2%, 5% and 24%, respectively. Collected ectoparasites included feather lice (Phthiraptera) and pigeon fleas (Ceratophyllus Columbae). Conclusion: The prevalence of different parasites in wild pigeons is somewhat different from racing and domestic pigeons in the same area, whereas it might be due to having different immune responses. Parasite infection could have some histopathological effects on different tissues, though few such reports exist to the best of our knowledge.