A Comparative Study of Blood Parasites Naturally Occurring in Doves and Domestic Pigeons in Garmian Area-Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the infection rate of the blood parasites naturally occurring in doves and domestic pigeons in Garmian area- Iraqi Kurdistan region during the period of 1st December 2015 to 1st May 2016. A total of 234 apparently healthy doves [129 (56 males and 73 females)] and domestic pigeons [105 (59 males and 46 females)] of different ages and sexes were randomly examined microscopically using Giemsa stained blood smears. The results of the study indicated that Haemoproteus columbae was the only parasite that had been detected. Out of 129 total numbers of examined doves, 14 doves were found to be infected at an infection rate of 10.85% [7 (12.50%) males and 7 (9.58%) females] and 11 pigeons out of 105 total numbers of examined domestic pigeons was found to be infected with H. columbae at an infection rate of 10.48% [6 (10.17%) males and 5 (10.87%) females], the infection rates of this haemoparasite for both bird species were non-significant (P>0.05). It was concluded from this study that the doves and domestic pigeons are susceptible to H. columbae and the rate of occurring in both bird species is somewhat the same. The current study was conducted for the first time in this area and revealed the existence of H. columbae protozoan