ZOONOTIC AGENTS IN A DOMESTIC PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA) COLONY IN CENTRAL ITALY

Urban pigeons has raised public health concern, being considered potential resevoirs of pathogenic organisms. A survey was conducted in a population of 100 domestic pigeons settled near a hospital in Central Italy. The pigeons were investigated for both zoonotic infectious agents (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni and C.coli, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydophila spp.) and parasitic organisms (Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Toxoplasma gondii). Individual faecal samples were cultivated in different media according to the nutritive requirements of bacterial agents searched.C. burnetii, C. psittaci and Chlamydophila spp. DNAs were investigated in 25 faecal pools by PCR. ELISA screening test on individual faecal samples were performed for Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., while individual serological samples were tested with commercial MAT (Modified Agglutination Test) test to highlight antibodies against T. gondii. Results showed that all fecal pools were negative for C. burnetii DNA, while one pool resulted positive for C. psittaci DNA and other two pools were positive for Chlamydophila genus. C. jejuni and coli were found respectively in 12.86% and 4.2% of cases. The 8% of the serum samples were positive for T. gondii. No Salmonella spp. was detected. The presence of C. jejuni and C. coli, T. gondii antibodiesand C.psittaci DNA should be evaluated in relation to the maintenance of these organisms in urban environment. The excellent state of nutrition of the subjects confirmed the urban habitat as optimal environment for the available shelters and sources of nutrition.