ENDOPARASITES IN THE SYNANTHROPIC FERAL PIGEON () IN SOUTHERN ECUADOR.

Abstract

Parasitic infections are frequent in cosmopolitan feral pigeons () that live in cities, but little is known about the effects of parasites in urban feral pigeon populations. A survey was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of endoparasites and the risk factors of feral pigeons in the city of Loja in southern Ecuador between August and October 2019. A total of 166 fecal samples and 80 peripheral blood smears were collected and examined by the McMaster flotation method and Giemsa staining, respectively. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 79.51% (132/166). Parasites included:in 13.64% (18/132),sp. in 3.79% (5/132),sp. in 25% (33/132), unidentified coccidia in 75% (99/132), and an unidentified nematode egg in 0.7% (1/132). The presence of intracellular gamonts ofsp. was found in 87.50% (70/80) of examined blood smears. The frequency and intensity of nematodes were different according to the site.infection was more frequent in individuals with low body mass index. More research should be undertaken to understand parasitic infections and their effects on cosmopolitan synanthropic feral pigeons.