Case 3- Two Rescued Rock
Doves
Kieley Hoppe
Abi Hutcheson
Kristi Kauppi
Shelly Weaver
Rock Dove
aka 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/acco
unts/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.