Impact of Subclinical Haemoproteus columbae Infection on Farmed Domestic Pigeons from Central Java (Yogyakarta), Indonesia, with Special Reference to Changes in the Hemogram

Imron Rosyadi,Bayanzul Argamjav,Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasia,Hiroshi Sato

doi:10.3390/pathogens10040440

Imron Rosyadi, Bayanzul Argamjav + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040440

Copy DOI

Journal: Pathogens	Publication Date: Apr 7, 2021
Citations: 6	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Yamaguchi University, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Abstract

Pigeon haemoproteosis caused by Haemoproteus columbae (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) is globally prevalent in rock doves (Columba livia), although little is known regarding this disease in pigeons and doves in Indonesia. Blood samples of 35 farmed domestic pigeons (C. livia f. domestica) from four localities in Yogyakarta Special Region, Central Java, Indonesia, were collected from March to June, 2016, subjected to a hemogram, and analyzed for the presence of hemoprotozoan infections. Microscopic examination of blood smears revealed a prevalence of 62.5–100% of H. columbae at the four localities (n = 8–10 for each locality), and geometric means of 3.0–5.6% of erythrocytes were parasitized by young and mature gametocytes, suggesting that all infected pigeons were in the chronic phase of infection with repeated recurrences and/or reinfections. Nucleotide sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cytb) for haemosporidian species demonstrated the distribution of four major cytb lineages of H. columbae (mainly HAECOL1, accompanied by COLIV03, COQUI05, and CXNEA02 according to the MalAvi database). Hemogram analysis, involving the estimation of packed cell volume, erythrocyte counts, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and plasma protein and fibrinogen levels of 20 parasitized pigeons and five non-infected pigeons demonstrated significant macrocytic hypochromic anemia with hypoproteinemia and hyperfibrinogenemia in the infected pigeons. This study shows the profound impact of long-lasting subclinical pigeon haemoproteosis caused by H. columbae on the health of farmed domestic pigeons.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilAvian haemosporidian infection is caused mainly by the genera Plasmodium Marchiafava et Celli, 1885, Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890, or Leucocytozoon Sambon, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Haemosporidia)
We examined the prevalence and levels of parasitemia of haemosporidian infection in farmed domestic pigeons that are bred for racing and meat, generally called “squab” [26,27], at four localities in Yogyakarta Special Region, Central Java, Indonesia
We identified the species as H. columbae (Table 2 and Figure 1), based on the morphological features of the gametocytes [2], and we did not detect any other haemosporidian species

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilAvian haemosporidian infection is caused mainly by the genera Plasmodium Marchiafava et Celli, 1885, Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890, or Leucocytozoon Sambon, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Haemosporidia). Domestica Gmelin, 1789), Haemoproteus columbae Kruse, 1890 is globally the representative cause of the haemosporidian infection [2,5,6]. In addition to this species, at least five other Haemoproteus spp. infect pigeons and doves (Columbiformes: Columbidae), are transmitted by hippoboscid flies, and are classified in the subgenus Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890. A large variety of birds from other families are infected by more than 126 different Haemoproteus spp. that are transmitted by biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) and are classified in the subgenus iations

Methods

Results

Conclusion