Investigation of ectoparasites on domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in Karbala province, Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2026.29.01.28Keywords:
chewing lice, ectoparasites, Iraq, prevalence, pigeon health, Columba livia domesticaAbstract
Ectoparasitic arthropods inhabiting the skin or feathers of avian hosts utilize them for shelter and sustenance, considerably affecting animal health and flock productivity. This study investigated the prevalence, diversity, and intensity indices of ectoparasites infesting domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Karbala Province, Iraq. The survey was conducted from January 2025 to June 2025 across five districts representing northern, central, and southern geographical zones. A total of 100 domestic pigeons, comprising 63 males and 37 females, were purchased from local markets and clinically examined. Ectoparasites were collected manually, preserved in 70 % ethyl alcohol, cleared in 10 % potassium hydroxide solution, mounted in Canada balsam, and morphologically identified under a digital stereomicroscope. A total of 481 ectoparasites were collected from the 100 pigeons, revealing an exceptionally high overall prevalence of 99 % and a mean abundance of 4.81 parasites per bird. Seven distinct chewing lice species were identified within the recovered parasitic community, which was significantly dominated by Campanulotes bidentatus (54.89 %), followed by Hohorstiella lata (23.91 %) and Columbicola columbae (17.26 %). The remaining species included Columbicola tschulyschman (0.83 %), Columbicola bidentatus (0.42 %), Myrsidea sp. (2.49 %), and Colpocephalum turbinatum (0.21 %). Statistical analysis via the Chi-square test revealed no significant association between ectoparasite prevalence and host sex (χ² = 1.72; P = 0.19). Multiple-species infestations were highly common, with 63 % of the pigeons harboring more than one ectoparasite species, distributed as single (34 %), double (44 %), and triple (19 %) infections. The calculated mean intensity varied among species, with Hohorstiella lata (8.214) and Campanulotes bidentatus (6.947) displaying the highest values. Clinically, infested pigeons exhibited poor, rough feather conditions and restlessness. These findings demonstrate that domestic pigeons in Karbala serve as major reservoirs for diverse chewing lice, highlighting the potential risks for parasite transmission to other avian hosts, including poultry. Consequently, there is an immediate need to enhance local management practices through regular ectoparasiticide applications, improved loft sanitation, and periodic surveillance to effectively protect avian health.
References
1. Clayton, D. H., Bush, S. E., & Johnson, K. P. (2015). Coevolution of life on hosts: Integrating ecology and history. The University of Chicago Press.
2. Baldwin-Brown, J. G., Villa, S. M., Vickrey, A. I., Johnson, K. P., Bush, S. E., Clayton, D. H., & Shapiro, M. D. (2021). The assembled and annotated genome of the pigeon louse Columbicola columbae, a model ectoparasite. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab009
3. Ahmed, H., Naz, M., Mustafa, I., Khan, M. R., Asif, S., Afzal, M. S., Arshad, M., Naveed, M., Ali, S., & Simsek, S. (2017). Impact of epidemiological factors on the prevalence, intensity and distribution of ectoparasites in pigeons. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 41 (4), 1074–1081. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-017-0936-0
4. Tayyub, M., Ali, S., Javid, A., & Imran, M. (2023). Prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites in wild rock pigeon (Columba livia) in Punjab region, Pakistan. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 83, e246887. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.246887
5. Ali, M., Ibrahim, R., Alahmadi, S., & Elshazly, H. (2020). Ectoparasites and intestinal helminths of pigeons in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The Journal of Parasitology, 106 (6), 721–729. https://doi.org/10.1645/20-64
6. Nwadike, C. C., Agbata, D. O., Okeke, J. J., Okeke, O. A., Nnatuanya, I. O., Afoemezie, P. I., Udeh, N. P., & Irikannu, K. C. (2023). Ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminth of domestic pigeons in Awka, southeastern Nigeria. The Bioscientist Journal, 11 (1), 1–7. https://bioscientistjournal.com/index.php/The_Bioscientist/article/view/132
7. Jahantigh, M., Esmailzade dizaji, R., & Teymoori, Y. (2015). Prevalence of external parasites of pigeon in Zabol, southeast of Iran. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 40 (4), 1548–1551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-015-0725-6
8. Ekinci, A., İpek, D. N. S., & İçen, H. (2024). Ectoparasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Diyarbakir province in Türkiye. Advances in Biology & Earth Sciences, 9, 53–57. https://doi.org/10.62476/abes9s53
9. Rezaei, F., Hashemnia, M., Chalechale, A., Seidi, S., & Gholizadeh, M. (2014). Prevalence of ectoparasites in free-range backyard chickens, domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) and turkeys of Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 40 (2), 448–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0524-5
10. Saikia, M., Bhattacharjee, K., Sarmah, P. C., Deka, D. K., & Mushahary, D. (2017). Prevalence of ectoparasitic infestation of pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in Assam, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 5 (4), 1286–1288. https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue4/PartQ/5-3-314-675.pdf
11. Castro, J., Naupay, A., Orozco, K., Rodríguez, S., Díaz, Y., Navarro, J., & Purca, N. (2018). Ectoparásitos de Columba livia Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves: Columbiformes) del distrito de Carmen de La Legua, Callao, Perú. The Biologist, 15 (2), 425–435. https://doi.org/10.24039/rtb2017152200
12. Adly, E., Nasser, M., Soliman, D. E., AlAshaal, S. A., Kenawy, M. A., Gustafsson, D. R., Alghamdi, K. M., & Shehata, M. (2020). Analysis of phoretic relation between chewing lice and hippoboscid flies of Columba livia. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 22, 100496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100496
13. Hernández-Martínez, M. C., Parra-Arango, J. L., Góngora-Orjuela, A., Walteros-Casas, H. A., & Chaparro-Gutiérrez, J. J. (2021). Identificación de ecto y endoparásitos en palomas domésticas (Columba livia) del área urbana de Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia. Revista MVZ Córdoba, 26 (3), e2157. https://doi.org/10.21897/rmvz.2157
14. Elmacıoğlu, S., Yaman, M., Zerek, A., Akküçük, Ş., Karagöz, M., & Erdem, İ. (2018). Ectoparasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Antakya region. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Research, 2 (2), 23–27. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tjvr/article/431009
15. Abdullah, S., Mohammed, A., & Saeid, N. (2018). Study of ecto and haemo parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Sulaimani province, Kurdistan region/Iraq. Journal of Zankoy Sulaimani - Part A, 20 (1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.17656/jzs.10640
16. Issa, A. R., Mero, W. M. S., Hasan, D. L., & Hameed, M. A. (2021). The prevalence of parasites in the domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Zakho City, Kurdistan-Iraq. Baghdad Science Journal, 18 (2), 0210. https://doi.org/10.21123/bsj.2021.18.2.0210
17. Al-Badrani, M. A., & Al-Muffti, S. A. (2023). Survey and prevalence of lice infestation the pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Kurdistan Region-Iraq. Rafidain Journal of Science, 32 (1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.33899/rjs.2023.177282
18. Alali, F., Alhaitami, I., Jawad, R. A., & Jawad, M. (2020). Identification of two new species of chewing lice in pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in Kerbala Province, Iraq. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2290 (1), 020037. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0027457
19. Jassem, M. I., Alali, F. A., Al-Ashbal, H. N., Jawad, M. H., & Alhesnawi, A. Sh. (2023). Prevalence of chewing lice species on migratory birds in Razzaza lake. Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 37 (2), 479–485. https://doi.org/10.33899/ijvs.2022.134464.2434
20. Adams, R. J., Price, R. D., & Clayton, D. H. (2005). Taxonomic revision of Old World members of the feather louse genus Columbicola (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera), including descriptions of eight new species. Journal of Natural History, 39 (41), 3545–3618. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930500393368
21. Dik, B., & Kandir, E. H. (2021). Ectoparasites in some wild birds (Aves) in Turkey. Progress in Nutrition, 23 (Supplement 2), e2021261.
22. Bush, S. E., & Clayton, D. H. (2023). Does Preening behavior reduce the prevalence of avian feather lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera)? Journal of Parasitology, 109 (3), 145–147. https://doi.org/10.1645/23-2
23. Şenlik, B., Güleğen, E., & Akyol, V. (2005). Ectoparasites of domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Bursa province. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi, 29 (2), 100–102.
24. Salem, H. M., Yehia, N., Al-Otaibi, S., El-Shehawi, A. M., Elrys, A. A. M. E., El-Saadony, M. T., & Attia, M. M. (2022). The prevalence and intensity of external parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Egypt with special reference to the role of deltamethrin as insecticidal agent. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29 (3), 1825–1831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.042
25. Hatem, A. N. (2025). Some aspects of infestation of chewing lice parasitizing chickens and pigeons in Basrah Province, Iraq. Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research, 24 (2), 46–58. https://doi.org/10.23975/bjvr.2025.158646.1210
26. Eren, G., Özkoç, Ö. Ü., & Açici, M. (2022). Contributions to the knowledge of the diversity of the chewing lice fauna in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 46 (6), 444–455. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0179.3099
27. Musa, S., Afroz, S. D., & Khanum, H. (2012). Occurence of ecto- and endo parasites in pigeon (Columba livia Linn.). University Journal of Zoology, Rajshahi University, 30, 73–75. https://doi.org/10.3329/ujzru.v30i0.10758
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 А. Ялдрум, Б. Ф. Альбарзанджі, Д. Ф. Сабер, М. Джавад, Ф. Алалі, А. Ш. М. Альхеснаві
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
