Treatment, diagnostic trials, and construction of species-specific PCR primers of Hadjelia truncata in pigeons (Columba livia)

SUMMARY In 2009, the first United States case of Hadjelia truncata in pigeons was reported at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. Since then, multiple ranches have had birds diagnosed with the parasite, with the primary complaint being weight loss. Intramuscular ivermectin and oral levamisole were used as potential treatments on those ranches previously diagnosed with H. truncata. Ivermectin was found to be a successful treatment based on improved weight gain, whereas the effectiveness of levamisole was questionable. Several antemortem diagnostic techniques were also evaluated. Simple fecal flotations were unsuccessful at identifying ova, whereas direct fecal smears were successful, but unreliable. The use of PCR successfully amplified the ribosomal 18S DNA, which was then sequenced. It was found to be most similar to Onchocerca cervicalis, Setaria digitata, and Loa loa, respectively.