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69 of 107 Domestic Pigeons in Urban El Kharga Carried Cestodes

Feral pigeon standing on a stone ledge
Research · Disease, parasites & microbiology

The first parasitological survey of pigeons in Egypt’s New Valley found cestode infections in 69 of 107 examined birds. The sampled birds were domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) obtained from local markets and household lofts in the urban area of El Kharga. The study also screened their blood for the protozoan parasite Haemoproteus columbae.

Cestodes are tapeworms, parasitic worms that typically live as adults in the intestine. The study also screened for H. columbae, a blood parasite, so it assessed two different parts of the parasite community in the same pigeon population.

The study was published online on 10 March 2026. The birds, 77 males and 30 females, had been examined between May 2023 and July 2024.

Five cestode types were recorded

Overall, 69 of 107 pigeons (64.5%) carried cestodes. This included 53 of 77 males and 16 of 30 females. Five cestode types were identified in the intestinal material: Raillietina tetragona, Raillietina echinobothrida, Cotugnia digonopora and two distinct Raillietina forms.

Two heavily infected males carried worms exceeding 19 cm in length. The two newly identified Raillietina forms differed clearly at the front end of the worm. Raillietina sp. 1 had a U-shaped scolex—the attachment organ—with two rows of rose-shaped hooks, whereas Raillietina sp. 2 had a simpler round-to-conical scolex and no distinct neck. The author notes that genetic or phylogenetic work is needed to clarify their taxonomy.

A blood parasite was also present

Haemoproteus columbae was found in nine birds—six males and three females. The parasite lives in red blood cells and is transmitted by hippoboscid flies. Histological sections showed rupture of endothelial linings in the lungs associated with merozoite invasion, while liver tissue showed congestion and irregular schizonts, a tissue stage in which the parasite multiplies. The author interprets these changes as evidence of substantial tissue damage associated with infection.

Sources and image credit

  1. Abd Elmaleck, B. S. (2026). Prevalence and impact of cestodes and protozoan Haemoproteus columbae in urban pigeons, first parasitological insights in New Valley, Egypt. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 70, 101467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101467Primary peer-reviewed study published online 10 March 2026. A total of 107 urban pigeons from El Kharga were examined; cestodes were found in 53 of 77 males and 16 of 30 females, and Haemoproteus columbae was detected in six males and three females.

Image: Aethonatic — feral pigeon (Columba livia) in London, United Kingdom, photographed 17 May 2026; Wikimedia Commons; representative urban-pigeon image, not a bird from the El Kharga study in Egypt · CC0 1.0 · Source

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