Prevalencia de microbacterias spp. y de cryptococcus spp. por hisopado en palomas domesticas(columba livia) que se encuentran libres en el parque de Santo Domingo en la ciudad de Cuenca.

Abstract

Domestic pigeons (Columba livia) are common birds in urban environments and can serve as reservoirs for various zoonotic diseases, including those caused by Mycobacterium spp. and Cryptococcus spp. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in free-ranging pigeons in Santo Domingo Park in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Swabbing samples were collected from a total of 95 pigeons in different areas of Santo Domingo Park. The samples were processed and analyzed using staining techniques such as Diff-Quik and Ziehl-Neelsen staining for the identification of Mycobacterium spp. and Cryptococcus spp. None of the swabbed samples showed the presence of Mycobacterium spp. or Cryptococcus spp. The performed stainings confirmed the absence of these pathogens in all the analyzed samples. The results suggest a low prevalence or absence of infections by Mycobacterium spp. and Cryptococcus spp. in the pigeon population evaluated in this study. These findings are significant for public and veterinary health, indicating that, at least during the study period, the pigeons in Santo Domingo Park do not pose a considerable risk as vectors for these pathogens. Despite the negative results, it is essential to continue epidemiological surveillance to detect possible changes in the prevalence of these infections. Additional studies are recommended at different times of the year and in other geographic areas to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.