ASCARIDIA COLUMBAE IN COLUMBIA LIVIA DOMESTICA

Ascaridia columbae is the cause of ascariasis in pigeons. The object of this study carried out in Tirana and Lushnja was the presence of ascariasis, identification and parasite load in pigeons (Columbia livia domestica). 5 dead pigeons were examined, 8 others were sacrificed and fecal samples were examined repeatedly, taken from 2 coops with pigeons, 1 for each area out of a total of 192 poultry. Ascaridia columbae was frequently evidenced in the pigeons of our country. Its prevalence results relatively high and varies from 40-90 % of the pigeons. We think that the cause of high affection of Ascaridia columbae is due to the lack of dehelminth culture and prophylactic precautions in cages. Average parasite load resulted 124 v/g/f with significant variations in the values 60-180 v/g/f. Adult ascariasis was identified based on morphological characteristics and the number of the parasites grown within the intestines of the poultry were defined. The number of the adult parasites that colonize the intestines of the poultry resulted 4-8 parasites on average. But there were also sporadic cases which evidenced up to 24 patent ascribes grown in intestines. In these cases nervous phenomena were evidenced as well as problems of condition, nutrition, mal growth, which might be the cause of a compromising diagnosis with other diseases of the pigeons. The study identified Ascaridia columbae as the cause of ascaridiosis in pigeons and a prevalence and parasite load that makes the application of diagnostic precautions and dehelminth schemes indispensable, whose lack is the cause of such condition.