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Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia)
Joint Authors
Nazir, Muhammad Mudasser
Ayaz, Muhammad Mazhar
Ahmed, Atif Nisar
Maqbool, Azhar
Ashraf, Kamran
Oneeb, Muhammad
Yasin, Ghulam
Subhani, Atta
Ali, Muhammad Asif
Nazir, Noman
Sajid, Muhammad Afzal
Source
Journal of Parasitology Research
Issue
Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-4, 4 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2018-05-06
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
4
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Little is known about the prevalence of protozoan parasites in the muscles of rock pigeons (Columbia livia).
The muscles from 54 (heart from 45 and breast from 54) rock pigeons were examined for DNA of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis species using PCR.
Twenty-four were female and 30 were males.
The birds were part of flocks of pigeons housed at the tombs of saints in Lahore, Pakistan.
Birds that died or were euthanized due to poor health were submitted for necropsy at the Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, where DNA isolations and PCR were conducted.
Nineteen (35.1%) of the birds were positive for T.
gondii DNA.
Seven males and 12 females were positive.
Breast tissue was always infected in T.
gondii positive birds, while the heart was infected in 13 (28.8%) of breast positive birds.
Five (9.2%) of the pigeons, 2 males and 3 females, were positive for N.
caninum.
The distribution of N.
caninum DNA was more variable in the muscles of pigeons than T.
gondii and was found only in the heart of 1 (female), heart and breast muscle of 2 (male), and only the breast muscle of 2 birds (female).
One of the 54 rock pigeons (female) was positive for both T.
gondii (heart and breast) and N.
caninum (heart only).
Two of the positive Neospora caninum amplicons were sequenced and had 97% nucleotide identity with N.
caninum isolates.
Sarcocystis DNA was not found in any bird.
The prevalence of T.
gondii in rock pigeons and their predation by cats suggest that they may play an unrecognized role in maintaining environmental contamination with T.
gondii oocysts by cats.
Our study indicates that rock pigeons are intermediate hosts of N.
caninum and this information will aid in understanding the epidemiology of N.
caninum.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Nazir, Muhammad Mudasser& Ayaz, Muhammad Mazhar& Ahmed, Atif Nisar& Maqbool, Azhar& Ashraf, Kamran& Oneeb, Muhammad…[et al.]. 2018. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia). Journal of Parasitology Research،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1197607
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Nazir, Muhammad Mudasser…[et al.]. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia). Journal of Parasitology Research No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1197607
American Medical Association (AMA)
Nazir, Muhammad Mudasser& Ayaz, Muhammad Mazhar& Ahmed, Atif Nisar& Maqbool, Azhar& Ashraf, Kamran& Oneeb, Muhammad…[et al.]. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia). Journal of Parasitology Research. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-4.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1197607
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1197607