Diversity and prevalence of endoparasites in wild and feral Columbidae across urban and natural habitats

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Abstract Pigeons and doves (Columbidae: Columbiformes) commonly inhabit urban and natural environments, where their close association with humans, domestic animals and wildlife facilitates environmental contamination and the transmission of parasitic infections. Despite their ecological and epidemiological importance, information on the diversity and prevalence of endoparasites in Algerian columbids remains scarce. This study investigated the endoparasite fauna of Columbidae in Algeria and assessed parasite prevalence, host associations and potential health implications. Between 2020 and 2023, 133 individuals representing 6 columbid species ( Columba livia Gmelin, 1789, Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838), Streptopelia turtur (Linnaeus, 1758), Streptopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766), Streptopelia roseogrisea (Sundevall, 1857) and Streptopelia risoria (Linnaeus, 1758)) were sampled from North Algeria. Endoparasites were identified using direct faecal examination, flotation techniques and morphological identification of adult cestodes following borax carmine staining. Thirteen endoparasite taxa belonging to 3 phyla were identified, including 2 coccidians ( Eimeria columbae and Eimeria spp.), 3 nematodes ( Capillaria spp., Ascaridia spp. and Strongylus spp.), 1 trematode ( Echinostoma spp.) and 7 cestodes ( Raillietina echinobothrida, R. cesticillus, R. tetragona, Raillietina sp., Cotugnia digonopora, Hymenolepis spp. and Passerilepis zimbebel ). Nematodes exhibited the highest prevalence, whereas cestodes represented the most diverse parasite group. Columba livia harboured the richest parasite assemblage among the examined hosts. Passerilepis zimbebel is reported for the second time in Algeria, expanding current knowledge of its distribution and host associations. These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of endoparasite diversity in Algerian Columbidae and establish an important baseline for avian parasitology, disease surveillance and One Health-oriented research in North Africa.

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