A Study on the Gastro Intestinal Parasites of Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia) in Sabzevar city, Iran.

Objectives:Birds can be parasitized by a different of ecto and endoparasites that is nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, acanthocephalans. The present study was done to record the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) from May 2016 to March 2017 in Sabzevar city, Iran. Material and methods: Total of 110 pigeons were examined. For collection of endo parasites, the alimentary tract was separated out and then differentiated into esophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizard, duodenum, small intestine, caecum and rectum.Trematodes were fixed in Acetic Formal Alcohol (AFA) and cleared in lactophenol and Cestodes were stained in acidified alum/carmine. Collected parasites were identified according to diagnostic keys. Results & Conclusion: Out of 110 pigeons, prevalence of helminths was 40% in pigeons. The most prevalent helminth was Raillietinaechinobothrida17 (15.45%), followed by species of R. tetragona6 (5.45%), R. magninomida4 (3.63%) and Capillariaspp2 (1.81%), Ascaridiacolumbae 15(13.63%).There was no trematode infection was detected. Highest prevalence of infection was seen in spring.According to role of pigeons as a risk factor for poultry health and, more studies are need to investigate parasitic infection of pigeons in other parts of Iran

:pigeon, parasite, helminth, Sabzevar, Iran