Research Information System
1 st International Congress of Alternative Poultry and Ornamental Birds, Antalya, Turkey, 8 - 10 November 2019, pp.35-38
The lice are ectoparasites, that are divided in chewing or sucking lice. Chewing lice, which are found
in many species of birds, feed on feather and skin scales. The aim of this study was to obtain
information on the density of lice populations and gram faeces of Eimeria oocysts (OPG) in domestic
pigeons in Canakkale and to show their relationship to the pigeon loft. For the determination of louse
density, 239 pigeons by 10 breeders were investigated. For oocyst detection, mix fecal samples were
taken from the pigeon-houses of 8 breeders. A questionnaire based on observations and breeder
responses was prepared. Four pigeon louse species were identified in the study: Columbicola
colombae, Goniocotes bidentatus, Goniocotes gallinae and Menepon gallinae. In addition, feather
mite (Falculifer rostratus) and pigeon fly (Pseudolychia canariensis) were also observed. It was
shown that feather color and light exposure of the houses were effective factors on louse density
(P<.0001). Pigeons with black feather color have more louse density than white pigeons. If the volume
of the pigeon house per pigeon decreases, the lice density increases (P<.0001). Although the number
of oocysts in the poultry houses, which were cleaned frequently, was lower, the difference was
statistically insignificant (P>0.05).