New records of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium (Sporozoa: Haemosporida) of rock pigeon (Columba livia) in India

Abstract

The prevalence, intensity and morpho-variants of new species of haemosporida (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) from the rock pigeon, Columba livia are described and illustrated for the first time from Uttar Pradesh state of India. Thin blood smears from 266 C. livia indicated 55.63% (Haemoproteus) and 6.76% (Plasmodium) prevalence and 1-6 pars/100 RBC's (Haemoproteus) and 1-2 pars/100 RBC's (Plasmodium) intensity of infection. The fully grown intracellular gametocytes of Haemoproteus were differentiated into microgametocyte (14.0 × 4.3 μm) and macrogametocyte (13.9 × 4.7 μm). Extracorpuscular gametocyte (15.0-17.8 μm in length, 3.9-7.3 μm in width) were occasionally visible. Nuclear displacement ratio was 0.2. Plasmodium species was characterized by rounded schizonts and elongated microgametocyte (7.8 × 7.6 μm) and macrogametocyte (7.8 × 7.7 μm) with irregular margins. Cells containing schizonts are often rounded and enlarged and those parasitized by gametocytes may be somewhat distorted in shape by lateral hypertrophy. Host cell nuclei are also displaced. Double gametocyte infection of Haemoproteus occasionally present but that of Plasmodium lacking.

High prevalence and genetic diversity of Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town, South Africa

“…The absence of vectors seems unlikely to cause the absence of Plasmodium in this study, and feral pigeons might not be native hosts for Plasmodium parasites (but see the experimentally infected C. livia with Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) gabaldoni and Plasmodium (Novyella) columbae) (Valkiūnas 2004). Generally, Plasmodium species were reported only rarely in wild feral pigeons (see exceptions, i.e., Gupta et al 2011;Natala et al 2009;Opara et al 2012), but none of these records was confirmed by molecular screening methods and Haemoproteus and Plasmodium can easily be confused depending on the development stage of the parasite and the quality of the blood slide (Valkiūnas 2004).…”

Prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in wild bird species of the order Columbiformes

“…However, only few studies have presented data on the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites in closely related bird species. Differences in prevalence between species are associated with several factors and the interactions between those, including life-history traits and ecology of the hosts and vectors, parasite characteristics and environmental conditions, that may affect the activity of vectors and the development of parasites (Sol et al 2000 ; Gupta et al 2011 ; Quillfeldt et al 2011 ; Hellard et al 2016 ; Chakarov et al 2020 ; Ciloglu et al 2020b ; Ellis et al 2020 ). Also different behavioural characteristics (e.g.…”

Detection of Haemoproteus Columbae in Iranian Pigeons Using PCR

“…Pigeons can carry ticks, fleas and other parasites [10]- [11]. Blood sucking insects including, louse flies (Hippoboscidae), tabanid flies (Tabanidae) and biting midges (Culicoides) are Haemoproteus transferred infections [12]- [13]. Few species of Haemoproteus are reported to cause clinical disease, including Haemoproteus nettionis, Haemoproteus meleagridis and Haemoproteus columbae, in geese and turkeys, ducks, pigeons and doves, respectively [14]- [15].…”