he present study was carried out to represent a field problem in squabs of domestic pigeons (columba livia) at Ismailia Province. Squabs were grossly examined and showed typical lesions including yellowish caseous, fibronecrotic patches in mouth due to infection with T. gallinae. Forty squabs were collected and tested individually for the presence of Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae). Squabs were divided into equal four groups, the 1st was un-infected control group, the 2nd was T. gallinae infected untreated group, the 3rd and the 4th groups were T. gallinae infected and treated with metronidazole. The obtained results showed that the mortality (%) were 0, 50, 20 and 30 % in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th group, respectively. Body weight was significantly reduced in all groups, although the drugs improved the weight reduction as compared to pre-treatment. Organs' weights were significantly increased after treatment as compared with the control group. Serum biochemical analysis revealed significant elevation in total protein, globulins; β- globulin and γ- globulin but albumin , α-globulin levels and A/G ratio were significantly reduced in infected squabs and increased in treated groups. Serum urea, creatinine and uric acid levels were increased, while, Serum glucose , cholesterol Na, K, Ca, P, Mg and serum iron as well as plasma ChE activity were decreased in both treated and infected groups. Serum AST, ALT, LD, γ -GGT, CK, AP activities were significantly increased in infected groups, Destructive changes in buccal cavity, hyperemia in blood vessels, necrotic changes in the liver with leucocytic infiltration and demylination of brain with preivascular oedema were observed.

Avian coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease affecting poultry and causes high economic losses in poultry industry, which acts as an important sector in the Egyptian national income. It is caused by genus Eimeria that belongs to subphylum apicomplexa. It affects domestic pigeons causing great losses, particularly in squabs. So, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria species infecting domestic pigeons (Columbia livia) in Minia province. Intestines of 400 domestic pigeons collected from various poultry butcher shops as well as 103 pooled fecal samples of household pigeons were microscopically examined by the flotation technique. The recovered oocysts were morphologically identified. The overall prevalence of Eimeria species infection was 27.0% (108/400) and 72.82% (75/103) in the intestinal and pooled fecal samples respectively. Seasonally, the highest infection rate in the pooled fecal samples was in both spring and autumn (80.0%), while the lowest was in summer (56.0%). Meanwhile, the infection rate of the intestinal samples was the highest in winter (33.33%) and the lowest in autumn (20.0%). Moreover, The monthly infection rate of intestinal samples revealed that September and April had the highest rates;(55.0% and 41.62%). However, no infection rates were found in October and November, while monthly infection rate of fecal samples recorded that January and February showed 100% infection rate. Meanwhile, March and August, showed the lowest rate of infection 28.57% and 42.86% respectively. The morphological identification revealed the presence of four Eimeria species, Eimeria labbeana, E. columbarum E.columbae and E.labbeana-like, in pigeons in Minia province. Further studies are recommended to investigate the life cycle and molecular differentiation of Eimeria species infecting domestic birds.

The prevalence rate of bacterial isolates of public health importance in pigeons was (28.16%). The incidence of bacterial pathogens differed according to health status of examined pigeons and ages either squabs or adults, as it gave the higher incidence in freshly dead squabs (33.33%) and in adults (28.57%) followed by diseased squabs (31.03%) and adults (26.67%) then finally slaughtered pigeons (25.56%). There was a wide range of bacterial pathogens isolated from nasal and cloacal swabs of diseased pigeons including C. jejuni, Citrobacter freundii, D. pneumoniae, E. coli, K. oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, S. aureus and Y. enterocolitica. There were variations between the incidence and the species of pathogens isolated from cloacal and nasal swabs either in squabs or in adults K. oxytoca, Mannheimia haemolytica and Y. enterocolitica never isolated from adult. It was appeared that the deaths usually occurred due to combination of more than one bacterium. On the examination of internal organs slaughtered pigeons, there were differences in the incidences of bacterial isolation form different organs. Serological identification of most prevalent isolates revealed 5 Salmonella serovars including, 3 P. aeruginosa serogroups and 6 E. coli serogroups. All examined pathogens were sensitive to enrofloxacin followed by gentamicin then ciprofloxacin. In contrast, streptomycin then erythromycin and colistin sulphate showed the lowest effect. Among the isolates tested, P. aeruginosa was resistant to the most used antibiotics..Most isolated strains of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella spp. and Y. enterocolitica from pigeons were elaborating enterotoxin. S. paratyphi A and S typhimurium var. copenhagen were 100% enterotoxigenic followed by S. typhimurium(83.33%) , E. coli O8 and Ps. aeruginosa I (75%) in each. On other hand, lower enterotoxin production was observed in Ps. aeruginosa A (46.15%) and E. coli O111 (44.44%).

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae infection in pigeon and determination of spatial factors related with T. gallinae infection among smallholder farms at Abhaynagar and Monirampur Upazillas, Jessore District, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study has undertaken from November 24, 2017 to February 28, 2018 on randomly selected 60 pigeons from 12 smallholder farms. Wet smear technique has been used to identify T. gallinae, from swab samples collected from oropharynx and crop of the sampled birds. Results: The overall prevalence was 60% (95% CI: 46.572.4) in which 75% (95% CI: 55.189.3), 50% (95% CI: 23.076.9), and 44.4% (95% CI: 21.569.2) were in squab, adult male, and adult female, respectively. The prevalence, in the case of dead pigeons (n = 13), 69.2% showed positive to the protozoan infection in the study. On the basis of spatial distribution, T. gallinae infection in the rural area was 64% (n = 25) followed by urban area 57.1% (n = 35) of the district. The prevalence of T. gallinae was insignificantly higher at Abhaynagar upazilla in contrast to Monirampur upazilla (30%) of Jessore district. Conclusion: This research finding suggests that a significant level of (57.4%) T. gallinae infection is circulating among the pigeon population of Bangladesh. Therefore, proper housing, feeding, and disease management should be ensured by the owner to prevent this problem. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4.000): 549-552]

Objectives: Here we determined the prevalence of Salmonella in cloacal swabs and pharyngeal swabs of apparently healthy pigeons sold in the live bird markets and villages in and around Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Materials and methods: A total of 50 samples, comprised of cloacal swabs (n=24) and pharyngeal swabs (n=26) were collected. The samples were processed, and Salmonella was isolated through a series of conventional bacteriological techniques and biochemical tests followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The prevalence rate of Salmonella was found to be 37.5% (n=9/24) in cloacal swabs and 30.77% (n=8/26) in pharyngeal swabs with an overall prevalence rate of 34% (n=17/50). The prevalence rate of Salmonella pigeon varied slightly among locations; 34.62% (n=9/26) in live bird markets, and 33.33% (n=8/24) in villages. Molecular detection of 17 Salmonella isolates obtained from biochemical test was performed by genus specific PCR, where all of them amplified a region of 496-bp segment of the histidine transport operon gene. Antibiogram study revealed multi-drug resistant traits in most of the isolates tested. The highest resistance was found against Ampicillin (88.23%) followed by Cephalexin (82.35%). The rate of sensitivity of the isolates to Ciprofloxacin was 100% followed by Azithromycin (82.35%), Gentamicin (76.47%) and Nalidixic acid (76.47%). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that pigeons carry multi-drug resistant Salmonella that may transfer to the humans and animals. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(1.000): 51-55]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of trazodone and its effect on the activity of domestic pigeons (Columba livia). ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult male domestic pigeons. PROCEDURES: During the first of 3 experiments, birds received orally administered trazodone at doses ranging from 3 to 30 mg/kg to determine the dose for subsequent experiments. During the second experiment, each bird received 1 dose of trazodone (30 mg/kg, PO). Blood was collected for determination of plasma trazodone concentration before and at predetermined times for 24 hours after drug administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis. During experiment 3, birds were instrumented with ultralightweight accelerometers and received orally administered trazodone (30 mg/kg) or an equal volume of water twice at a 48-hour interval. Activity of birds was monitored for 24 hours after administration of each treatment. RESULTS: No adverse effects were observed. Mean ± SD terminal half-life of trazodone was 5.65 ± 1.75 hours. Plasma trazodone concentrations remained > 0.130 μg/mL for approximately 20 hours. Trazodone did not affect the activity of birds during the first 2 and 15 hours after administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that oral administration of 1 dose (30 mg/kg) of trazodone to healthy pigeons was safe and resulted in plasma drug concentrations that were similar to those considered therapeutic in humans and dogs for up to 20 hours. Further research is necessary to characterize the pharmacokinetics for repeated doses as well as the clinical effects of trazodone in birds with behavior problems.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gastroscopy and biopsy of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons (Columba livia). ANIMALS 15 adult pigeons. PROCEDURES Each pigeon was anesthetized, and the upper gastrointestinal tract (from the cervical portion of the esophagus to the ventriculus) was endoscopically evaluated by use of a rigid endoscope inserted orally. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was orally infused to achieve lumen dilation and visibility. Two mucosal biopsy specimens were collected from each of the proventriculus and ventriculus, histologically evaluated, and graded for crush artifacts and depth. Pigeons were monitored for adverse effects for 3 to 6 days after the procedure, after which they were euthanized for necropsy. RESULTS Gastroscopy via the oral approach provided excellent visibility of the lumen and mucosal surfaces of the proventriculus and cranial portion of the ventriculus and was safe provided that appropriate precautions were taken. Two intraoperative deaths occurred at the beginning of the study; following procedure refinement, no additional deaths occurred. No major adverse effects of the procedure were detected in the remaining 13 pigeons during the postoperative monitoring period or at necropsy. Diagnostic quality of proventriculus specimens was adequate for 10 of 13 pigeons. Eight of 13 ventriculus specimens were of inadequate quality, and only 3 were of adequate quality. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gastroscopy was useful for evaluating the lumen and mucosal surface of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons, and biopsy of those organs was safely performed with the appropriate technique. Further evaluation of these techniques is needed in birds with clinical disease and birds of other species.

Due to their great nutritional value, distinct scent and taste, and lower price in contrast to other usual sources of protein, game birds' meat products are in higher demand. Toxic metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) are still present in these items, but there is a glaring lack of information on their presence. Therefore, this analysis was done to determine the residual level of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic were still present in three different types of game bird’s meat, including pigeons, quails and sparrows. According to the study’s findings, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As were detected at variable concentrations in the tested samples. Residual concentrations of the tested metals in several samples are over the suggested maximum permissible limits (MPL). However, Cd was low in all samples and did not exceed MPL. Furthermore, the HQ ranged from 0.04 to 0.22 for cadmium, 1.16 to 1.34 for arsenic, 0.06 to 0.07 for lead and 0.05 to 0.35 for mercury. Although HQs of studied heavy metals except for arsenic did not exceed 1, it supposedly demonstrates that eating the meat of game birds does not pose a significant health risk to people for ingesting the particular metals.

Ever since infectious bursal disease (IBD) was recognised in Nigeria over forty years ago, it continues to pose a threat to poultry production with limited information on the likely role of other avian species especially those raised in close proximity with chickens. For this study, blood samples were obtained from184 unvaccinated apparently healthy birds comprised of Japanese quails (63) andindigenous chickens (60) on smallholdings as well as pigeons (61) in a live-bird market in Osun and Oyo states, southwest Nigeria.Sera from these birds were analysed for IBD virus antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. Overall, 69 (37.5%) sera were positive for IBDV with 52.8% (65/184) and 6.6% (4/184)from birds on smallholdings and live-bird market, respectively. These findings indicate that these birds were sub-clinically infected and could serve as reservoirs shedding the virus into the environment and perhaps, corroborate the suggestion that the inability to effectively control or eradicate the disease from poultry flocks in Nigeria may be due to limited information on the contributions of other avian species other than chicken in the spread of IBD virus.

Besides the yield loss of the pigeons those are infested with ectoparasites they are also susceptible against the other infections because of weakened immunity. Thus it has been evaluated the situation of ectoparasites of domestic pigeons and determined the prevalance in Antakya region. Materials and Totally 100 domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) which are fed for hobby in Antakya region were examined with respect of ectoparasites. The prevalance of ectoparasites of domestic pigeons has been determined and identified according to the literature.The prevalance of ectoparasites of domestic pigeons was determined as 52% and three different ectoparasites were detected. Columbicola columbae was the dominant species with a percentage of 45%, Argas reflexus and Pseudolynchia canariensis were also dedected with a percentage of 5% and 2%, respectively. Despite the higher percentage of infestation in female pigeons (54,5%) when compared with males (48,9%) and adults (56,9%) when compared with juveniles (42,9%) no significant difference was found statistically (p>0.05). But louse infestation of adult pigeons (58,3%) was significantly higher than the juvenile pigeons (28,5%) statistically (p<0.05).The yield and perfomance loss in domestic pigeons should not be ruled out. Therefore hygien of shelters and ventilation is crucially important. Ectoparasiter situation should be monitorized and gotten under controlled.