Prevalence and diversity of parasites infecting pet birds in Guelma region (North-East Algeria).

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate endoparasites and ectoparasites in 162 cage birds raised in Guelma province. Sampling was conducted on nine bird species from four families: Serinuscanaria (German red canary and Mosaic canaryvarieties), Cardueliscarduelis (European goldfinch), from the family of Fringillidae, Nymphicus hollandicus (Cockatiel lutino, Cockatiel) from the family of Cacatuidae, the passerine Passer domesticus (House sparrow), Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar), Psittacus erithacus (African grey parrot), Agapornis fischeri (lovebird), Poicephalusgulielmi (Red fronted parrot), and Poicephalus senegalus (Senegal parrot) from the family of Psittacidae. The results revealed the presence of a single ectoparasite species, Dermanyssus gallinae, affecting 100 % of the birds in the Fringillidae family. Endoparasitesidentified belonged to the Nematoda and Protozoa phyla, including Syngamus trachea, Strongyloïdes sp., Amidostomum sp., Ascaridia sp., Cooperia sp., Giardia sp., Entamoeba sp., and Isospora sp. The highest rate of digestive parasite infection was observed in the Fringillidae family (86 %), while the lowest was found in the Psittacidae family (36 %). The most common intestinal parasites in cage birds in this region were protozoa, specifically Isospora oocysts (29/162) and Entamoeba cysts (26/162), as well as the nematode Syngamus trachea (20/162).