Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences

Molecular Diagnostic Study of Intestinal Protozoa in Wild Pigeons in Diwaniyah Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hind Qasim Neamah 1
Khaled Thamer Matter Alshaebani 2

1 College of education/University of Al-Qadisiyah

2 Department of Life Sciences, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq

https://doi.org/10.29079/qjvms.2025.160139.1087
Abstract
Parasitic infestations in wildlife are significant biomarker of the present state of ecosystems, and studying these infections is essential for better understanding natural epidemiological hotspots. Animals infected with parasites are therefore susceptible to pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, wild birds have an important role in transmitting and spreading many zoonotic diseases, which has a great impact on the health of humans and birds. In this study, samples were collected from the intestinal contents of (50) wild pigeons from different areas in the city of Diwaniyah during the period extending from the beginning of September 2024 to the end of March 2025. The birds were dissected and samples were taken from the intestinal contents to investigate intestinal protozoa. The results of the microscopic examination showed the infection of 14 infected pigeons were frozen and preserved for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The results revealed two genera of intestinal protozoa, Cryptosporidium sp. and Isospora sp., with infection rates of 85.71% and 14.28%, respectively.

Keywords

Cryptosporidium spp
Isospora spp
intestinal protozoa
Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 201-204