The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Tumbler Pigeons Raised in Kırıkkale - Original Article - Research findings on intestinal parasite prevalence

Aug 26, 2026

The study investigated the prevalence of intestinal parasites in tumbler pigeons reared in Kırıkkale using 105 stool samples collected from each cage. Fresh samples were transported to the laboratory within about two hours and examined with Carbolfuchsin staining, Native-Lugol staining, and Fulleborn flotation. Parasites were detected in 82.9% of stools, including Eimeria (identified as E. labbeana), helminth eggs, and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Mixed helminth+protozoan infections occurred in 40.9%, while single protozoan infections were 28.6%.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Pigeon husbandry and parasite impact

Helminths and Cryptosporidium overview

Van Vet J, 2023, 34 (3) 219-223 Van Veterinary Journal [https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/vanvetj](https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/vanvetj) Cite this article as: Gökpınar S, Uysal E, Pusat BN (2023) . The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Tumbler Pigeons Raised in Kırıkkale. Van Vet J, 34 (3), 219-223. DOI: [https://doi.org/10.36483/vanvetj.1279215](https://doi.org/10.36483/vanvetj.1279215) ISSN: 2149-3359 Original Article e-ISSN: 2149-8644 The Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Tumbler Pigeons Raised in Kırıkkale Sami GÖKPINAR1, * Ece UYSAL2 Beyza Nur PUSAT2 1Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 71450, Kirikkale, Türkiye 2Kirikkale University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 71450, Kirikkale, Türkiye Received: 08.04.2023 Accepted: 28.09.2023 | ABSTRACT | It was aimed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in tumbler pigeons reared in Kırıkkale. One hundred and five stool samples were obtained as one sample from each cage reached. The fresh stool samples collected were taken separately in containers with caps and delivered to laboratory within approximately 2 hours. Stool samples were analyzed by Carbolfuchsin, Native-Lugol staining and Fulleborn flotation techniques. Eimeria spp. oocysts were sporulated in 2.5% potassium dichromate and the species were identified. Parasite species were found in 82.9% of the examined pigeon stool. In the study, Heterakis spp., Ascaridia spp., Capillaria spp., Strongyle type eggs and Eimeria spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected. The number of feces infected with one parasite (32.4%) species was higher than the number of feces infected with two (22.9%), three (19.0%) and four species (8.6%) . While helminth+protozoan mixed infections were detected in 40.9%, helminth parasite eggs in 13.3% and protozoan oocysts were found alone in 28.6% of the stools examined. All of the sporulated Eimeria oocysts were identified as E. labbeana. In this study, intestinal parasites were detected at a high rate in pigeons fed for hobby purposes. It has been revealed that animal owners should be informed about the issue, attention should be paid to the cleanliness and
hygiene of pigeon cages, and more importance should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasites in these animals in order to reduce the prevalence of parasitic infections in pigeons in the region. Keywords: Intestine, Parasite, Prevalence, Pigeon. | | --- | --- | | ÖZ | Kırıkkale’de Yetiştirilen Taklacı Güvercinlerde Bağırsak Parazitlerinin Yaygınlığı
Bu çalışmada Kırıkkale’de yetiştiriciliği yapılan taklacı güvercinlerde bağırsak parazitlerinin yaygınlığınınaraştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Ulaşılan her bir kafesten bir örnek olmak üzere 105 dışkı örneği alınmıştır. Toplanan dışkı örnekleri kapaklı kaplara ayrı ayrı alınmış ve yaklaşık 2 saat içerisinde usulüne uygun olarak laboratuvara ulaştırılmıştır. Dışkı örnekleri Karbolfuksin boyama, Native lügol boyama ve Fülleborn flotasyon tekniği ile incelenmiştir. Eimeria spp. ookistleri % 2.5’lik potasyum dikromat içerisinde sporlandırılarak türteşhisine gidilmiştir. İncelenen güvercin dışkılarının % 82.9’unda parazite rastlanmıştır. Çalışmada Heterakisspp., Ascaridia spp., Capillaria [spp. ve](spp. ve) Strongil tip yumurtalar ile Eimeria [spp. ve](spp. ve) Cryptosporidium spp. ookistleri tespit edilmiştir. Bir tür parazitle enfekte dışkı sayısı (% 32.4), iki (% 22.9), üç (% 19.0) ve dört parazitle (% 8.6) enfekte olan dışkı sayısına göre daha yüksek orandaydı . İncelenen dışkıların % 40.9’unda helmint+protozoon miks enfeksiyonları saptanırken,% 13.3’ünde helmint yumurtaları ve % 28.6’sında protozoon ookistleri tek olarak görülmüştür. Sporlandırılan Eimeria spp. ookistlerinin tümü E. labbeanaolarak teşhis edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada hobi amacıyla beslenen güvercinlerde bağırsak parazitlerine yüksekoranda rastlanmıştır. Yöredeki güvercinlerde paraziter enfeksiyonların yaygınlığını azaltma

FAQs

How many stool samples were analyzed and how were they collected?

A total of 105 stool samples were collected, with one sample from each cage. Fresh samples were placed in capped containers and delivered to the laboratory within about two hours.

Which intestinal parasite groups were detected in the examined pigeons?

Eimeria spp. (sporulated and identified as E. labbeana), Heterakis spp., Ascaridia spp., Capillaria spp., Strongyle-type eggs, and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected.

What were the main prevalence rates for single vs mixed infections?

Parasites were present in 82.9% of stools. Mixed helminth+protozoan infections were 40.9%, helminth-only infections were 13.3%, and protozoan-only infections were 28.6%.

Aug 26, 2026

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