Parasites of pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of lages, southern Brazil.

A prevalência de ecto e endoparasitos de 58 pombos (Columba livia) de vida livre foi estudada em áreas urbanas de Lages, estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os pombos foram submetidos ao exame visual para a coleta e identificação de ectoparasitos, coletas de fezes e sangue. O diagnóstico hemoparasitológico foi através de esfregaços sangüíneos corados pelas técnicas de Panótico Rápido e Giemsa. As fezes foram processadas pelo método de Sheather. Entre os hemoparasitos destacou-se o Haemoproteus sp., com 67,24% (39/58) para a técnica de Panótico Rápido e 46,55% (27/58) para a técnica de Giemsa. Dos 116 esfregaços analisados, a prevalência foi de 57% (P = 0,0387; Odds Ratio = 2,357 e Intervalo de Confiança de 95%). A prevalência de parasitos gastrintestinais foi de 74,14% (43/58) com 86,05% para protozoários (100% para Eimeria sp.), 32,56% para nematódeos (Ascaridia sp. e Capillaria sp.) e 20,93% multiparasitados. A presença da mosca Pseudolynchia canarienses foi observada entre as penas de todas as aves. Este é o primeiro registro destes parasitos em C. livia no estado de Santa Catarina.The prevalence of ectoparasites and endoparasites was studied in 58 free-living pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The pigeons were visually inspected and fecal and blood samples were collected to determine the presence of ectoparasites. The serological diagnosis was established through the use of blood smears stained with Quick Panoptic and Giemsa methods. The fecal samples were analyzed using Sheather’s method. The Quick Panoptic and Giemsa methods detected 67.24% (39/58) and 46.55% (27/58) of Haemoproteus sp, respectively. The prevalence rate amounted to 57% of 116 smears analyzed (P value=0.0387; odds ratio = 2.357 with a 95% confidence interval). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 74.14% (43/58). Protozoa (100% for Eimeria sp.) were detected in 86.05% of the cases and nematodes (Ascaridia sp. and Capillaria sp.) in 32.56%, whereas 20.93% of the pigeons were infected by multiple parasites. The fly Pseudolynchia canariensis was found beneath the feathers of all pigeons. This is the first report of parasites in C. livia in the state of Santa Catarina