Successful therapeutic management of pigeon (Columba livia domestica)malaria with chloroquine

Pigeons from two different flocks were presented to Teaching Veterinary Hospital of Institute, Ludhiana with the history of dullness, depression, decreasedfeed intake, twistingof neck, incordination, difficulty in maintaining balanceand death. Physical examination of the affected birds revealed weakness, ruffled feather, lameness, dyspnea, lethargy and poor growth. Blood smear examination revealed presence of pigmented intraerythrocytic halter shaped gametocytes of Hemoproteus columbae. The birds were treated with Chloroquine and multivitamin. After 5 days of treatment mortality was stopped in the birds and remaining birds regain their appetite and became alert and active. During a follow up period of one month no recurrenceof disease and anyfurther mortality wereobserved in the pigeon flocks.