Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Raillietina Species Infecting Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia domestica): Insights from Genetic Sequencing | ||||
| Egyptian Veterinary Medical Society of Parasitology Journal (EVMSPJ) | ||||
| Volume 21, Issue 1, 2025, Page 36-45 PDF (1.1 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/evmspj.2025.449659 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
Sameh A. Alalfy 
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| Departement of Parasitology,Institute of Animal Health Researches,Benha branch | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Raillietina spp. are significant intestinal parasites affecting domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica), causing considerable health challenges and economic losses in avian populations. So, the current study aimed to determine its prevalence in one-hundred pigeon intestine samples that were collected from different butcher in El-Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt. Results revealed its detection in 20.0% of the examined samples, reflecting the considerable burden of Raillietina infections in this region. The diagnosis of Raillietina spp. based solely on morphological features is often challenging due to intraspecific variation and morphological similarities among related species. Therefore, molecular diagnosis targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coi) gene was utilized to provide precise and accurate identification of Raillietina isolates; where it gave positive band at 450 bP. Moreover, amplification and sequencing of the coi gene allowed for definitive species confirmation and discrimination from closely related cestodes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained coi gene sequence was significantly identical, with more than 99.0% similarity to recorded Raillietina hymenolipidoides genes from various sources deposited in GenBank. This high genetic similarity underscores the conserved nature of this gene region among Raillietina species infecting different avian hosts and highlights the utility of molecular tools for epidemiological and taxonomic studies. In conclusion, the integration of prevalence data with molecular diagnosis and phylogenetic analysis enhances understanding of Raillietina infections in domestic pigeons, supporting improved surveillance, control, and prevention strategies to mitigate their impact on poultry health and productivity. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| coi gene; Domestic pigeon; Raillietina Species | ||||
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