Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of carrier pigeons from central Poland in the years 2012–2019

The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections of carrier pigeons from central Poland depending on the year and season. The coproscopic method (flotation with saturated NaCl) was used to examine 324 fecal samples from carrier pigeons. The average prevalence of parasitic infections reached 84.56% (274/324). Parasites such as coccidia of the genus Eimeria (80.86%), nematodes of the genera Capillaria (32.71%) and Ascaridia (13.58%) were detected. Infection with tapeworms (Raillietina) was observed (0.3%) only in one fecal sample. Coccidiosis was the most prevalent infection during the whole period of the study (2012–2019), ranging from 70.03% in the 2014–2015 period up to 90.5% (P ≤ 0.02) in 2012–2013. Infections with Capillaria (P ≤ 0.05) and Eimeria were diagnosed more frequently in the autumn-winter seasons then in spring-summer.