A survey of parasitism in a population of pigeons

Numerous papers relative to parasites in pigeons can be found in the literature, but information concerning parasitic infections in pigeons of Virginia is scant, and no survey of parasitism has been made. Furthermore, no one survey or parasitism in pigeons of North America has included the incidence of both ectoparasites and endoparasites. Information relative to the incidence of individual parasites or groups of parasites, however, is available in recent literature, as well as information concerning isolated cases of parasitism The present study was undertaken to (1) determine the nature and extent of parasitism in a population of pigeons in Henrico County, Virginia, and (2) to determine the useful­ ness of the pigeon as a source of material for studies on individual parasites