Prevalence of Haemoproteus columbae (Apicomplexa: Haemoproteidae) and Trichomonas gallinae (Metamonada: Trichomonadidae) infections among pigeons (Columba livia) in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was performed on domestic pigeons (<em>Columba liviadomestica</em>) to evaluate the prevalence of <em>Haemoproteus columbae</em> and <em>Trichomonas gallinae </em>in West Azerbaijan Province, northwest of Iran between July 2015 and September 2016. Five hundred and sixty oropharyngeal swab smears were examined, 297 (53%) of which were identified to be positive for <em>T. gallinae. </em>Also, the results obtained from blood smears examination indicated that 115 (20.5%) cases were found to be infected with <em>H. </em><em>columbae.</em> The rates of <em>T. gallinae</em> and <em>H. columbae </em>infection infemale pigeons (58.3% and 21.3%, respectively) were higher compared to those in males. There were 76 (26.1%) and 210 (72.4%) cases of <em>H. columbae</em> and <em>T. gallinae</em> infection in adolescent birds, respectively, which were higher than those in other age groups. We found high prevalence rates of <em>H. columbae</em> and <em>T. gallinae</em> infections in domestic pigeons. Therefore, more attention should be focused on controlling the spread of<em> T. gallinae</em> and <em>H. columbae</em> infection in domestic pigeons.