Prevalence and intensity of blood parasites in wild pigeons and doves (Family: Columbidae) from shasha forest reserve, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 248 wild pigeons and doves representing seven species, mist-netted between March 2006 and February 2007, were examined for parasitemia using thin blood smears. Seventy-seven individuals (31.0%) harboured blood parasites. The identified blood parasites included Haemoproteus (6.5% prevalence); Plasmodium (12.1%), Trypanosoma (6.9%), Microfilariae (6.0%) and Leucocytozoon (2.0%). The highest prevalences of Haemoproteus (11.6%), Plasmodium (28.57%), Trypanosoma (21.43%), Microfilariae (50.0%) and Leucocytozoon (10.0%) were found in Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata, Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba malherbii, Grey wood pigeon columba unicincta and Green Fruit Pigeon Treron australis, respectively. The lowest prevalences for the blood parasites were found in Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria (3.45% for Haemoproteus), Columba unicincta (4.55% for Plasmodium), Turtur tympanistria (1.72% each for Trypanosoma and Microfilariae) and Streptopelia semitorquata (7.14% for Leucocytozoon). The highest intensities of infection in tenus of mean parasitemias were found in Streptopelia senegalensis (11.6±4.73 Haemoproteus), Turtur tympanistria (9.31±3.57 Plasmodium), Streptopelia semitorquata (13.5±7.11 Trypanosoma), Columba unicincta (20.4±8.16 microfilariae) and Treron australis (3.44±0.65 Leucocytozoon). The Blue-headed Dove Turtur brehmeri was the only species without any obvious parasitemia. © 2008 Academic Journals Inc.