Hypodectes propus (Nitzsch, 1861) (Acarina: Hypoderatidae) in common wood pigeons (Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Columbidae): the first record in Türkiye

Abstract

Hypoderatid mites of the species Hypodectes propus have a complex interaction with their hosts and much remains to be elucidated about these mites. This study was planned based on the observation of small worm-like structures in the subcutaneous adipose tissues of wood pigeons, which were noticed by hunters and caused concern in some state hunting areas in southern Türkiye. In this study, the prevalence of H. propus infestation in wood pigeon populations in Burdur and Antalya provinces of Türkiye was investigated and H. propus deutonymphs were detected in subcutaneous adipose tissues of 72.4% (n: 55) of a total of 76 hunted pigeons. Confirmation that the deutonymphs belonged to H. propus was carried out by microscopy and the combined use of PCR and sequence analysis. Pairwise comparisons of the 18S rRNA gene region revealed that the H. propus isolate identified in the study (PP472912) shared a high nucleotide sequence similarity (99.44%) with a Hypodectes sp. isolate reported from a Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) from the USA (JQ000124). The findings revealed a significant infestation rate, underscoring the burden of ectoparasites on pigeon populations and their implications for avian health. Such infestations can cause stress, reduce reproductive success and increase susceptibility to pathogens, especially in free-ranging pigeons, which may play a role in parasite dynamics within ecosystems. This study is the first report of H. propus infestation with molecular characterization in wood pigeons in Türkiye and it is believed that this study will be useful to scientists and hunters interested in the subject.