Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in carrier pigeons (Columba livia) during competition, reproduction and molting seasons

Author(s)

Elís Domingos Ferrari

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Araçatuba. 2021-08-12.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária. Araçatuba
• Defense date: 2021-07-19
• Advisor: Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani; Marcelo Vasconcelos Meireles

Abstract

There are no reports in the literature about the occurrence of Giardia spp. and few reports about Cryptosporidium spp. in birds of the species Columba livia. Our aim was to detect the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in carrier pigeons during competition, breeding and molting seasons using molecular biology tools, and observing management of these birds. The questionnaires were applied only once in each pigeonry with an authorization term. A total of 471 samples of carrier pigeons (Columba livia) from the 10 pigeonries participating in each season (competition, breeding and molting) were collected fresh and kept at -20⁰C for genomic DNA extraction. After extraction, nested PCR was performed for the 18S rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium spp. Giardia spp. in all the samples. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium ssp. was 0.64% (3/471) in championship and 0.21 (1/471) in molting seasons. There is no prevalence of Giardia spp. throughout this study. The possibility of pigeons acting on the dispersion of Cryptosporidium spp. must be considered. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/12136-8 - Molecular characterization, spatial distribution and risk factors for occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in carrier pigeons (Columba livia) for introduction of management good practices in breeding
• Grantee: Elís Domingos Ferrari
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate