The haemoproteid parasites of the pigeons and doves (family Columbidae)

Abstract

The seven species of haemoproteid parasites of the pigeons and doves (Columbidae) have been reviewed and re-described. Only two species, Haemoproteus columbae Kruse and H. sacharovi Novy and MacNeal are morphologically distinguishable in Giemsa-stained smears. Haemoproteus maccallumi Novy and MacNeal, H. melopeliae Laveran and Petit, H. palumbis Baker, H. piresi Son and H. turtur Covaledo Ortega and Gallego Berenguer cannot be separated morphologically from columbae and are considered to be synonyms of this species. The possibility that some of these forms may represent strains of columbae has not been discounted.