title: Tetrameriosis in feral pigeons from Murcia, Southeastern Spain.
abstract: A total of 165 adult feral pigeons (Columba livia) were captured in 7 different parks of the municipality of Murcia, Southeastern Spain. Birds were evaluated clinically and subsequently necropsied. All birds appeared to be in good physical condition and no apparent signs of disease were observed. However, 17.6% of the pigeons were parasitized by Tetrameres (Petrowimeres) fissispina. The nematode burden in the proventriculus ranges from 5 to 64 specimens (median: 19); the median of female and male nematodes was 17 (range: 4-54) and 3 (range: 0-12), respectively. Despite the absence of detectable signs of disease, lesions induced by T. (P.) fissispina were evident. The histopathologic analysis revealed a pressure atrophy of the proventricular glands and a light inflammatory infiltrate surrounding the papillae. Pigeons captured in parks with soil had significantly higher T. (P.) fissispina prevalence compared with those captured in paved areas.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30100-Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. cmcpleit@um.es
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Carrasco
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: María Del Rocío Ruiz
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: de Ybáñez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Espigares
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tizzani
authors.forename: Francisco D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010856:Columbidae; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011531:Proventriculus / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology