Current challenges in addressing invasive diseases in domestic pigeons: insights from our research

Abstract

The current study aims to highlight the ongoing challenges in addressing invasive diseases within pigeon flocks in the Lublin region. The study material comprised bird faecal samples from 69 flocks (39 fancy pigeon flocks and 30 racing pigeon flocks) with a total estimated bird count of 7,490, as declared by the owners. Parasite forms were confirmed in samples from 56/69 flocks, indicating a prevalence of 81.2% across the study, 87.2% in fancy pigeon flocks and 73.3% in racing pigeon flocks. The identified parasites included protozoa of the genus Eimeria, roundworms Ascaridia columbae, nematodes Capillariidae, Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, and Syngamus trachea, cestodes and Trichomonas gallinae. The analysis revealed that coccidiosis was the predominant invasion in both racing and fancy pigeon flocks. Comparing the two types of breeding (racing pigeons and fancy pigeons), fancy pigeon flocks were more susceptible to parasitic invasions.