Parasites in cage and aviary birds: an update?

INTRODUCTION. In recent years, in Italy, there has been an increasing interest in cage and aviary birds and an increase of the owners of these animals. That pushes veterinarians to a deeper knowledge of this particular branch of avian medicine. In the present work a survey on intestinal parasites was carried out in particular during Ornithological Exhibitions, where breeders from different regions expose they specimens, because no research has ever been done on intestinal parasites in these locations in Italy. Some cage and aviary birds breedings were also sampled. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 70 samples were collected from Ornithological exhibition of Faenza (RA) 2016, 101 from Ornithological exhibition of Faenza (RA) 2017 and 34 from Ornithological exhibition of Bologna 2017. During these events, each bird is housed in a single cage: fecal samples were obtained collecting the corncob litter or the blotting paper litter under each cage. Moreover 7 samples from the seat of F.O. I (Federation Italian bird breeders) and 23 samples from two parrot’s breedings were also collected. Overall, 235 samples were examined: the papers were scrubbed to obtain fecal samples and analyzed by flotation technique; the corncobs were washed in one liter of water, that was filtered and submitted to sedimentation and flotation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Ascaridia sp. and Capillaria sp. are confirmed the most frequent helminthic species found in parrots, while in Passeriformes only Coccidia was observed. The low parasites prevalence seen in this survey suggests that breeders lead anti-parasitic therapies (which we have not been able to ascertain), and that they hold animals in compliance with good health and hygiene standards. The animals that are selected to participate in the exhibits are therefore in compliance with the characteristics of the breed standards, but also have a good state of nutrition and general well-being.