Investigation of Sarcocystis in domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) and woodpigeons (Columba palumbus) in Lithuania

Abstract

Protists of the genus Sarcocystis are parasites of mammals, birds and reptiles and have an obligatory prey-predator two-host life cycle. Birds of the family Columbidae serve as intermediate host for these parasites. In 2010 two new Sarcocystis species parasitizing in pigeons were described in Germany, S. calchasi causing several neurologic disorders in feral pigeons and S. columbae from woodpigeons. In the period of 2008-2011, leg, neck and breast muscles of 18 woodpigeons and 54 domestic pigeons from Lithuania were examined for sarcocysts. Sarcocystis cysts were found in only two woodpigeons and infected birds did not show any clinical signs of the disease. The morphologically investigated Sarcocystis sp. had a type-1 tissue cyst wall and was not distinguishable from S. calchasi, S. columbae and S. wobeseri, parasitizing birds. According to DNA analysis, Sarcocystis sp. from the woodpigeon was identified as S. columbae. According to the phylogenetic and ecological data, predatory birds are expected to be definitive hosts of S. columbae. This is the first report of Sarcocystis in birds of the family Columbidae in Lithuania. The reasons, why domestic pigeons were negative for Sarcocystis are discussed.