Incidence of some protozoan parasites in birds

Abstract EN

In the present study 928 birds including 191 chickens, 45 turkeys, 153 ducks, 75 geese, 150 squabs of pigeon, 100 adult pigeon, 40 quials, 13 doves, 45 herons and 16 wild migratory quails were examined for enteric and blood protozoa during the period from may 1999 to December 2000.

The present data revealed that 54.2% of birds had enteric protozoa the detected protozoa were Eimeria spp., (23.4%), Cryptosporidium spp., (13.5%), Trichomonas spp., (29.8%) and Giardia spp., in (5.6%) E.tenella, E.acervulina and E.mitis were detected in 43.9% of examined chickens.

Turkeys were infected with E.adenoides, E.meleagrimitis and E.innocua in 20%, while pigeons were infected with E.columbae and E.labbeana in 28.7%.

Quail had E.tsunodai in 72.5% .

E.labbeana was the only recorded species in dove with as incidence of 15.4% Cryptosporidium baileyi was detected in 12.6% of chickens, C.meleagnidis in 17.8% of turkeys, C.anserium in 9.3% of geese.

Also, Cryptosporidium spp., were recorded in 24.2% and 13.3% of examined ducks and pigeons respectively.

Trichomonas gallinarum was recorded in 20.9% of chickens, T.anatis in 52.3% of ducks, T.anseris in 34.7% of geese, T.gallinae in 20.7% and 15.4% of pigeons and doves respectively.

Tritrichomonas eberthi was detected in 82.5% of quails.

Giardia ardeae was recorded for the first time from Egyptian herons with an incidence of 88.9%.

Dealing with blood protozoal parasites, Haemoproteus columbae was detected in 35% of pigeons and Nuttalia henrii in 43.8% of wild migratory quails.