DESCRIPTION OF CESTODES INFECTING DOMESTICATED PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA) IN EGYPT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF RAILLIETINA SPP.

This study investigated the prevalence and the specific identity of cestode parasites isolated from the digestive tract of domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in Cairo, Egypt. Out of 246 pigeons, 61 (24.79%) were infected by one or more species. Eight helminthes species were recorded; three nematodes; Ascaridia galli, A. columbae and Heterakis gallinarum and five cestodes; Raillietina echinobothrida, R. tetragona, R. sp., Cotugnia digonopora and Choanotaeniainfundibulum. No trematodes were recorded. The morphological observations, using light microscope, were employed for precise identification of cestodes with particular attention to molecular identity of Raillietina spp. using two molecular techniques: RAPD-PCR and SSCP-PCR.