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Helminths Infected 92% of Feral Pigeons Sampled in Al Ain

Feral pigeon in flight in the United Arab Emirates
Research · Disease, parasites & microbiology

Helminth parasites were found in 92% of the feral pigeons examined in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, compared with 46% of domestic pigeons. The study, published on 24 February 2026, examined 100 adult pigeons and provides the first helminthological assessment of pigeons in the country.

Helminths are parasitic worms, a broad group that includes tapeworms, nematodes and flukes. Comparing feral and domestic pigeons can therefore show whether differences in environmental exposure and management are reflected in parasite transmission.

Rock dove (Columba livia) occurs in both free-ranging feral populations and domestic forms in Al Ain. The researchers examined 50 feral and 50 domestic pigeons collected between August 2023 and October 2024 through trapping and local-market acquisition.

Seven helminth species were identified

Overall, 69 of the 100 pigeons carried at least one helminth. The researchers identified seven species: the tapeworms Raillietina echinobothrida, Raillietina tetragona and Cotugnia digonopora; the nematodes Ascaridia galli, Dispharagus nasutus and Gongylonema sp.; and a trematode in the genus Brachylaima.

R. echinobothrida was the most widespread parasite, occurring in 57% of all examined pigeons, followed by C. digonopora in 21%. Forty-two percent of the pigeons carried a single helminth species, while 27% had mixed infections involving two species.

Feral pigeons had a much higher prevalence

The difference between lifestyles was pronounced: 92% of feral pigeons were infected, compared with 46% of domestic birds, a statistically significant difference. The average infection intensity was higher in feral pigeons as well, although that difference was not statistically significant.

The authors interpret the higher prevalence in feral birds in relation to their unrestricted movement, broader environmental exposure and lack of routine veterinary care. Domestic pigeons, by contrast, are more likely to experience managed conditions and preventive care.

Male pigeons had a significantly higher mean infection intensity than females, although the proportion of infected males and females did not differ significantly.

None of the seven helminth species had previously been documented from pigeons in the UAE. The records provide the first country-level reference for these parasites in feral and domestic pigeons.

Sources and image credit

  1. Sulieman, Y., Perveen, N., Ali Al-Deeb, M., & Pengsakul, T. (2026). Helminth parasites infecting feral pigeons (Columba livia) in Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates. Journal of Veterinary Research, 70(1), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2026-0009Primary peer-reviewed open-access article electronically published 24 February 2026 under CC BY 4.0. One hundred adult pigeons were examined: 50 feral and 50 domestic. Helminths occurred in 92% of feral and 46% of domestic pigeons; seven helminth species were identified, all new regional parasite records for pigeons in the UAE.

Image: Lintophilip — feral pigeon (Columba livia) in the United Arab Emirates, photographed 31 March 2017; representative UAE species image, not a pigeon from the Al Ain study. Source: Wikimedia Commons. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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