Endoparasites in carrier and fancy pigeons in south-western Poland

The aim of the study was to investigate the state of parasitic invasions in flocks of carrier and fancy pigeons in south-western Poland. Coproscopic methods (flotation with saturated NaCl and saccharose, as well as the McMaster method) were used to examine 42 pigeon flocks (18 flocks of fancy pigeons and 24 flocks of carrier pigeons). A total of 210 faeces samples were tested. Prevalence was determined, and average intensity and abundance of gastrointestinal parasites were estimated on the basis of OPG/EPG. Dispersive forms of parasites were found in 78.6% flocks (88.8% of fancy pigeons and 70.8% of carrier pigeons). In the flocks of fancy pigeons most invasions were of mixed character, with statistically significantly high indices of prevalence and abundance. In carrier pigeon flocks, monoinvasions with significantly higher indices of average intensity prevailed, which indicates a high risk of invasion in this group of birds. Eimeriosis was found to be the dominating invasion, occurring in 59.5% of all samples, carrier pigeons – 45.4%, fancy pigeons – 77.7% (59.5% of the flocks), average OPG – 12280, abundance – 7309. Capillariasis: in total – 49% samples, carrier pigeons – 35.8%, fancy pigeons – 66.6% (52.4% of the flocks), average EPG – 3216, abundance – 1577. Ascariasis: in total – 24.3% samples, carrier pigeons – 12.5%, fancy pigeons – 40% (28.6% of the flocks), average EPG – 1953, abundance – 474. Eggs of nematodes belonging to Ornithostrongylus were found in 4.2% of the samples in total: carrier pigeons – 3.3%, fancy pigeons – 5.5% (4.8% of the flocks), average EPG – 488, abundance – 20. Tapeworm eggs were found in 6.2% samples in total, carrier pigeons – 2.5%, fancy pigeons – 11.1% (9.5% of the flocks), average EPG – 607, abundance – 37. The correlation analysis showed relationships between the prevalence and diarrhoea only in the case of tapeworm invasion, no relationship between diarrhoea and the mere fact of infection were found in other invasions. However, a significant correlation was found between the average OPG/EPG of diagnosed parasites (especially Eimeria, Capillaria and Ascaridia) and the observed diarrhoea symptoms.