A case of intense and multiple parasitic infestation in a wild pigeon (Columbia livia).

Introduction The prevalence of parasitic diseases in poultry seems to have significantly reduced due not only to the intensive production system but also to the improving conditions of hygiene and management practiced. However, parasitic diseases continue to have great importance in traditional production systems and production systems in the outdoors, contributing significantly to productivity decline of these farms. The pigeon (Columbia livia), a specie produced with outdoors access is more susceptible to infestations. The growing population of wild pigeons in urban areas can be decisive in the infestation of domestic pigeons, since they share the same places and their sanitary control is more difficult. Objectives The aim of this work is to describe a case of a pigeon (Columbia livia) with an intense parasitic infestation, this being the cause of death, with common parasitic species and other less frequent. Material and Methods A cadaver of a pigeon was submitted to the necropsy of Anatomic Pathology Laboratory of the Agrarian Superior School of Viseu, a detailed post mortem examination was carried out and samples were taken. All samples were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, for a maximum of 48 hours and processed following the routine histopathological technique. Results Gross examination lesions revealed rounded red lesions in the proventriculus serosa and lung congestion. Microscopic examination confirmed severe lung congestion, with hemosiderosis and the presence of numerous nematodes in cross section, discussing the hypothesis that it might be a case of Cyathostoma bronchialis (Muehlig 1884), taking into account the location or, less likely, an erratic parasite in histotropic migration phase. Eggs observed at this location had thick shell, oval shape, some were embryonated and 35-40 μm in length by 20-25 μm in width. In the lumen of the proventriculus glands, nematodes in cross section were also observed, noting numerous barrel-shaped eggs, embryonated larvae, oval poles and 55 mm in length by 25 mm in width, apparently compatible with parasites of the genus Tetrameres. Conclusion The high parasitic infestation of the wild pigeon specimen subjected to necropsy, with several, common and uncommon, species of parasites, the severity of lesions, leading to death of the animal, as well as the fact that infected wild birds favoring the spread of the parasite to the domestic pigeons and other poultry production, consisting of a major concern for producers, justifies the study of isolated cases, even constituting an epidemiological alert for the regions where they appear.Acknowledgments: Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Center for Studies in Education, Technologies and Health and strategic project PEst-OE/CED/UI4016/201