Pathological and histochemical alterations of Paratanaisia bragai infection in domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

Paratanaisia bragai is a kidney dwelling trematode of galliformes, columbiformes and anseriformes birds. The parasite has been reported from the American continent, the Phillipines, Brazil and India. The present study was aimed to investigate the pathology of the parasite in the kidney of domestic pigeon. Detailed necropsy of the dead birds was conducted and gross lesions recorded. Grossly, presence of Paratanaisia spp. was seen in the medullary area of kidneys, ureter and cloaca. In some cases, kidney lobes affected with parasites showed atrophy. In most of the cases, the ureters were found distended with uric acid crystals Microscopically, kidneys infected with Paratanaisia bragai showed nodule formation, congestion and hemorrhages, degeneration of tubular epithelia and coagulative necrosis of the renal tubules. The results indicated that Paratanaisia bragai infection produces histopathological and histochemical changes of infected birds.