Identificación de parásitos gastrointestinales en palomas domésticas (columbia livia) del área urbana del cantón Machala.

Abstract

Pigeons have become an essential component of the urban ecosystem by evolving into synanthropic species, underscoring the need to study the presence of parasites that could have implications not only for avian health but also, potentially, for public health. This research focuses on identifying gastrointestinal parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in the urban area of Machala canton. There were 66 pools of pigeon fecal samples collected from selected areas, and three coprological methods—Faust, Sheather, and Ritchie—were employed to detect parasites. It was determined that 37 samples tested positive for parasites, representing 56.06%, while 29 (43.94%) were negative. The results revealed that Eimeria spp. was the most common parasite, found in 94.6% of the positive samples. Additionally, the nematode Ascaridia columbae, although less frequent, was also identified, representing 5.4% of the samples. To determine the Eimeria species, a method to sporulate coccidial oocysts using potassium dichromate was applied, which revealed the presence of Eimeria columbarum and Eimeria labbeana in Machala canton. This study highlights the need for monitoring pigeon populations in urban areas of Ecuador and the aforementioned canton to effectively manage the risks associated with parasitic infections. The high positivity for Eimeria spp. in Machala, along with the presence of Ascaridia columbae, underscores the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of these parasites' dynamics in urban areas, with the aim of benefiting both pigeons and the human population affected by them.