Case 3- Two Rescued Rock Doves

Kieley Hoppe Abi HutchesonKristi Kauppi

Shelly Weaver

Rock Doveaka Rock Pigeon or Common Pigeon

• Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Columbiformes

Family: Columbidae

Genus: Columba

Species: Columba livia

Natural Habitat

• Native to Europe, North Africa, and SW Asia, introduced worldwide.

• Nest in crevices along rocky seaside cliffs, in cities they use skyscrapers as nesting areas.

Rock Dove Highlights• Males show more

iridescence than females, but can vary dramatically in colors.

• Pairs are formed for life. • If you enter a nesting pair’s

territory they may peck you profusely on the head, some considered a nuisance.

• Eat mainly seeds.• Are eaten by humans. • Common predators are

opossums, raccoons, and birds of prey.

• Not of special concern due to abundance worldwide.

Most common parasites found in Rock Dove

• Lice

• Mites

• Haemoproteus (Avian Malaria)

• Pseudolynchia canariensis (Pigeon Fly)

The Case: Symptoms

• Juvenille Rock Doves suddenly developed head tremor, incoordination, loss of balance, lethargy and torticollis (head tilt).

• Three weeks previously the birds had been given Ivermectin (to kill helminthes- ie roundworm).

• Both euthanized due to rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Sanitation

• The pen that the doves were housed in had previously been home to orphaned raccoons.

• Each raccoon had been dewormed within 24 hours of admission.

• A bleach solution along with pressurized steam was used to clean the pen between when the raccoons vacated and the doves arrived.

Diagnosis• The first bird was tested

for anything of interest histopathologically, viral, bacterial, as well as lead toxicity. All were negative.

• The second bird showed swelling and inflammation of the brain, with a single larvae shown on histological preparation.

• Larvae observed resembled typical roundworm.

• Roundworm larvae are resistant to disinfectants.

• Baylisascaris procyonis

Possible Question

• Even with prophylaxis against helminths and bleach sanitized pens, how were the birds still able to contract the parasite?

• What do you think???

References

• Roof, J. 2001. "Columba livia" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 21, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Columba_livia.html.

• Kazacos, K. R., Fitzgerald, S.D., and W. M. Reed. 1991. Baylisascaris procyonis as a Cause of Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis in Ratites. J. of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 22(4): 460- 465.