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Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in rock pigeons (Columba livia) in Punjab, Pakistan

  • Protozoology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Rock pigeons are synanthropic birds and live in close association within human settlements. Synanthropic birds are considered potential carriers of diseases and pose a subsequent risk of their transmission to humans. Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are intracellular protozoans infecting a wide range of hosts, as well as birds. Data related to the incidence of these protozoans in rock pigeons in Pakistan are scant. The aims of the study were to detect T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in tissue samples from rock pigeons (Columba livia) and to identify possible risk factors associated with infection. To accomplish this, pectoral muscle and brain samples were carefully collected from rock pigeons (n = 120) belonging to three zones located in ten districts of Punjab during a 4-month sampling span (July 2018 to October 2018). Data related to sex, age, sampling site, districts, seasonality, and ecological zones were recorded. DNA from brain and pectoral muscle samples was screened for both T. gondii and N. caninum by PCR assays. Chi-square analysis was used to check the association between positive samples and risk factors. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05. T. gondii was detected in 46 (38.3%) brain samples, while 24 pectoral muscle samples (20%) were positive for N. caninum. Agroecological zones were statistically associated with the detection of N. caninum DNA. The outcomes of this study provide an understanding of the epidemiological pattern of N. caninum and T. gondii infection in rock pigeons in different regions of Punjab, Pakistan.

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The data presented in this study are available within the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wildlife Epidemiology and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory (One Health Research Group), Discipline of Zoology, Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Pakistan

    Muhammad Tayyub & Shahzad Ali

  2. Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Pakistan

    Muhammad Tayyub, Shahzad Ali & Arshad Javid

  3. Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Imran

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  1. Muhammad Tayyub
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  2. Shahzad Ali
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Contributions

M. T., S. A., A. J., and M. I. performed the statistical analyses, evaluated the results, and drafted the paper. M. T., S. A., A. J., and M. I. participated in the conception and design of the study. M. T. contributed to the capture of birds and sample collection. M. T. and S. A. contributed to analyzing data. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shahzad Ali.

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All procedures performed in the study were approved by the animal ethics committee of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore (No. UVAS-135).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Tayyub, M., Ali, S., Javid, A. et al. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in rock pigeons (Columba livia) in Punjab, Pakistan. Parasitol Res 121, 1499–1505 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07494-8

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