Development of the gastrointestinal tract microflora in young carrier pigeons

František Zigo; Anna Tarčáková; Silvia Ondrašovičová

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2020.13.2.0383

Authors

František Zigo Department of Nutrition and Animal Husbandry, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
Anna Tarčáková Department of Nutrition and Animal Husbandry, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia
Silvia Ondrašovičová Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2020.13.2.0383

Keywords:

Carrier Pigeons, Hatching, Swabs, Crop, Cloaca, Lactobacilli.

Abstract

The high demands placed on the performance of carrier pigeons are often reflected in their health and reduced immunity. Therefore, it is important to take sufficient care of their health from the hatching throughout the rearing of future competitors. The aim of the study was to monitor the development of the bacterial microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) during the first month of their life. Two examinations of young pigeons involved taking of swabs from crop and cloaca at 5^th day after hatching and 30^th day of weaning, when exposure of young pigeons to stress was expected. The results of the study suggested that crop microbiota of young pigeons until weaning is dominated by lactobacilli, such as L. fermentum, L. mucosae or L. agilis, and host-specific bacteria, namely enterococci and streptococci. From the cloacal swabs, E. coli, Ent. faecalis and Str. faecalis were most frequently detected during the two samplings. Commensal bacteria, particularly Str. gallolyticus and Str. sanguinis, which are part of the gastrointestinal microbiota, can act as opportunistic pathogens, mainly under stress conditions resulting in susceptibility to various diseases.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Hand O. The Effects of Stress on Racing Pigeons. [Internet], 2004; [cited 2019 Aug 10]. Available: http://www.pigeonbasics.com/articles/article79.html.

Zigo F, Takáč L, Chripková M, Tomko M, Takáčová J, Toropilová D. Infectious diseases of carrier pigeons and antimicrobial resistance in isolated bacteria. Int J of Sci Res. 2016; 5: 2277-8179.

Struhár, M. Holuby a ich zdravie/Pigeons and their health (In Slovak). Zohor, 2015; ISBN 978-80-89783-02-1, p. 74.

Zigo F, Ondrašovičová S, Zigová M, et al. Influence of the flight season on the health status of the carrier pigeons. Int J Avian & Wildlife Biol. 2019; 4(2):26-30.

Scullion FT, Scullion MG. Investigation of diseases in young racing pigeons. [Internet], 1997; [cited 2019 Aug 10] Available: http://www.wmenews.com/Information/Other/Section4Scullionetalpp73-75pdf.pdf.

Facklam RR, Collins MD. Identification of Ente¬rococcus species isolated from human infections by conventional test scheme. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1989; 27:731–734.

Kimpe A, Decostere A, Martel A, Haesebrouck F, Devriese LA. Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among pigeon isolates of Streptococcus gallolyticus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. Avian Pathol. 2002; 31:393-397.

Devriese LA, Ceyssens K, Rodrigues UM, Collins MD). Enterococcus columbae, a species from pigeon intestines. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 1990; 59:247-251.

Devriese LA, Vandamme P, Pot B, Vanrobaeys M, et al. Differentiation between Streptococcus gallolyticus strains of human clinical and veterinary origins and Streptococcus bovis strains from the intestinal tracts of ruminants. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1998; 36:3520-3523.

Rupiper DJ, Ehrenberg M. Practical pigeon medicine. Proc Assoc Avian Vet.1997:479-497.

Baele M, Devriese LA, Butaye P, et al. Composition of enterococcal and streptococcal flora from pigeon intestines. Jour of Appl Mic. 2002; 92:348-351.

Johansson ML, Molin G, Jeppsson B, Nobaek S, Ahrne S, Bengmark S. Administration of different Lactobacillus strains in fermented oatmeal soups in vivo colonization of human intestinal mucosa and effect on the indigenous floora. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1993; 59:15-20.

Prescott JF, Smyth JA, Shojadoost B, Vince A. Experimental reproduction of necrotic enteritis in chickens: a review. Avian Pathol. 2016; 45:317-22.

Xu T, Chen Y, Yu L. et al. Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on intestinal integrity and immune responses of egg-laying chickens infected with Clostridium perfringens under the free-range or the specific pathogen free environment. BMC Vet Res. 2020; 16(1):47.