Fifty wild columbids (25 each of Columba livia and Streptopelia roseogrisea)
were trapped in Alimosho, Lagos State, Nigeria from January to June 2022 and
examined for ectoparasites and intestinal helminths following standard
procedures. Three (6%) of the birds were infested with two species of
ectoparasites. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection were: Gonoides gigas
6% and 0.34±SD; Columbicola columbae 6% and 0.14±SD respectively. Thirtytwo (64%) of the birds were infected with helminths, represented by three
species of cestodes and one species of nematode. The prevalence and mean
intensity of infection of the cestodes were as follows: Raillientina
echinobothrida 50% and 25±SD), Raillientina tetragona 40% and 20±SD and
Raillientina cesticillus 20% and 10±SD, while the nematode recovered was
Ascarida galli with prevalence and mean intensity of infection of 4% and 2±SD.
Only 9.4% of the birds studied harboured triple infections, while 6.3% of the
birds had double infection. The prevalence of gastro intestinal helminths within
Streptopelia roseogrisea was higher for cestodes (p< 0.05) and for ectoparasitic
infestation, Gonoides gigas had the highest prevalence (6%; p< 0.05). The
overall prevalence (64.00%) of parasitic infection among columbids in this
study was high, with Raillientina sp, a zoonotic parasite, dominating the
infections. This demands for control, considering the close proximity of pigeons
to man.