https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9208-3787, Nawab NASHIRUDDULLAH, Jafrin Ara AHMED

Mortality in some domesticated pigeons (Columba livia) from Jammu, India

Abstract: Although pigeons are reared for recreational purposes in Jammu region, disease occurrence is sparsely documented. Based on clinical signs, lesions and laboratory investigation, approximately 600 out of 4000 (15%) domestic pigeons were found to be disease affected. Necropsy of 60 birds was conducted to determine the cause of death. Haemoproteus columbae demonstrated within erythrocytes and various development stages in tissue and endothelial schizogony caused majority deaths due to pneumonia and hepatitis (45%) accompanied by severe vascular and tissue reaction. Newcastle disease (20%) confirmed by positive serum haemagglutination inhibition manifested in a severe neurological form with characteristic cerebral malacia and demyelination. Mycotoxicosis (13.33%) detectable in tissue and feed samples were associated with typical hepatic and renal degeneration. Aspergillosis (8.33%) was associated with severe granulomatous pneumonia and systemic affections. Aspergillus fumigatus could be isolated from deep tissues. Pigeon pox (3.33%) associated with severe cutaneous and diphtheritic form. Traumatic injury (6.67%), salmonellosis and colibacillosis (1.67% each) were other causes of mortality. The study summarizes pigeon mortality pattern of this region andhighlights the warranted health management of these birds. The potential for pathogen dissemination in the environment, to other susceptible hosts and possibly across International borders by free flying birds have been emphasized. Key words: Columba livia, mortality, pathology, pigeon

PDF

___

1. Balicka RA, Tomza MB, Pilarczyk M, Wieczorek-Dabrowska M, Bakowska M. Intestinal parasites of parrots. Wiad Parazytol 2007; 53: 129-132 (in Polish with an abstract in English).
2. Marques SM, Quadros RM, Da-Silva CJ, Baldo M. Parasites of pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of Langes, Southern Brazil. Parasitologia Latinoamericana 2007; 62: 183-187.
3. Doneley B. Pigeon medicine and surgery. In: Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference; Orlando, FL, USA; 2006. pp. 1525-1530.
4. Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey B, Carter GR. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology. Revised ed. London, UK: Mosby; 1993.
5. Cruickshank R, Duguid JP, Marmon BP, Swani RHA. Medical Microbiology, Vol. II. 12th ed. London, UK: Edward Arnold Publishers; 1975.
6. Valkiunas G. Avian Malaria Parasites and other Haemosporidia. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press; 2005.
7. Mubarak M, Abed GH. Pathological changes of lung tissues of pigeons (Columba liviadomestica) infected with Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporina: Haemoproteidae). Journal of Biological Sciences 2005; 5: 536-541.
8. Hussein NM, Abdelrahim EA. Haemoproteus columbae infection and its histopathological effects on pigeons in Qena Governorate, Egypt. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) 2016; 11: 79-90.
9. Mehmood S, Nashiruddullah N, Ahmed JA, Borkataki S. Parasitic affections of domesticated pigeons (Columba livia) in Jammu, India. Annals of Parasitology 2019; 65 (1): 53-64.
10. Fischer E. Pathology of spontaneous paramyxovirus-1 infection in pigeons. Inaugural Dissertation Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany, 1986.
11. Barton JT, Bicford GT, Cooper BR, Charlton BR, Cardona CJ. Avian paramyxovirus type-1 infection in racing pigeons in California. Clinical signs, pathology and serology. Avian Diseases 1992; 36: 463-468.
12. Ecco R, Susta L, Afonso CL, Miller PJ, Brown C. Neurological lesions in chickens experimentally infected with virulent Newcastle disease virus isolates. Avian Pathology 2011; 40: 145-152.
13. Bhaiyat MI, Ochiai K, Itakura C, Islam MA, Kida H. Brain lesions in young broiler chickens naturally infected with a mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus. Avian Pathology 1994; 23: 693-708.
14. Bwala DG, Fasina FO, Duncan NM. Avian poxvirus in a free-range juvenile speckled (rock) pigeon (Columba guinea). Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 2015;86:1259.
15. Phangcho CV. Etiopathological studies on the prevailing diseases of domestic pigeons (Columba livia). PhD, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, India, 2001.
16. Dutta P, Borah MK, Sarmah R, Gangil R. Isolation, histopathology and antibiogram of Escherichia coli from pigeons (Columba livia). Veterinary World 2013; 91-94.
17. Dutta P, Borah MK, Sarmah R, Gangil R. Isolation of Salmonella Typhimurium from pigeons (Columba livia) in Greater Guwahati, its histopathological impact and antibiogram. Comparative Clinical Pathology 2013; 22: 147-150.
18. Haag-Wackernagel D, Moch H. Health hazards posed by feral pigeons. The Journal of Infection 2004; 48: 307-313.
19. Darzi MM, Mir MS, Nashiruddullah N, Kamil SA. Nocardiosis in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Veterinary Record 2006; 158: 834-836.
20. Tokarzewski S, Ziółkowska G, Łopuszyński W, NozdrynPłotnicki Z. Aspergillus fumigatus infection in a pigeon flock. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy 2007; 51: 563- 567.
21. Cacciuttolo E, Rossi G, Nardoni S, Legrottaglie R, Mani P. Anatomopathological aspects of avian aspergillosis. Veterinary Research Communications 2009; 33: 521-527.
22. Tsai SS, Park JH, Hirai K, Itakura C. Aspergillosis and candidiasis in psittacine and passeriforme birds with particular reference to nasal lesions. Avian Pathology 1992; 21: 699-709.
23. Intarakamhaeng M, Sodsee P, Muendech P, Kaewamatawong T, Sasipreeyajan J et al. Histochemistry and histoenzymatic studies of liver after a single oral dose of aflatoxin B1 in broiler chicks. The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine 2002; 32: 35-44.
24. Majeed Saleh K, Al-SereahBahaa A,Yasir Iman H. Toxicological pathology of aflatoxin B1 in local pigeon mainly in liver, kidney and heart. Journal of International Academic Research for Multidisciplinary 2016; 4: 218-227.
25. Ramirez R, Robertstad GW, Hutchinson JR, Chavez J. Mycotic flora in the lower digestive tract of feral pigeons (Columba livia) in the El Paso, Texas area. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 1976; 12: 83-85.
26. Hadley TL, Grizzle J, Rotstein DS, Perrin S, Gerhardt LE et al. Determination of an oral aflatoxin dose that acutely impairs hepatic function in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 2010; 24: 210-221.