What diseases can pigeons carry?
Today, pigeons are city dwellers on a par with people. They are considered symbols of love, happiness and purity, but they are the spread of many diseases. These birds can carry more than 50 different pathogenic and opportunistic microbes, and some of them can be transmitted to humans. So what diseases do pigeons carry? This is what this article is about.
What diseases do pigeons carry
Tularemia
Tularemia is caused by a tiny bacterium. It spreads quickly and adapts well to any habitat. It is impossible to tell from the bird whether it is sick or not. You can get infected only from one touch to a pigeon or through contaminated liquid and food. A tick bite can also become an irritant.
As practice shows, a person easily becomes infected with this ailment, but a person is not capable of infecting a person. Symptoms:
- heat;
- shiver;
- lack of appetite;
- severe headaches;
- weakness in the legs and body.
During the first phase, the face of people becomes very red and swollen, rashes occur on the skin and inside the mouth. Also, the size of the liver and spleen can increase, which leads to sharp pain in the abdomen. Also, one of the main symptoms is swollen lymph nodes, which can lead to immediate sore throat.
With quality treatment, the disease proceeds easily: dry cough and slightly increased temperature. If you turn to specialists late, tularemia will develop into pneumonia. It can be treated with antibiotics.
For those at risk, it is best to get vaccinated every 5 years. But this is only if the doctor has confirmed the diagnosis.
Salmonellosis
The most common pathology that pigeons carry. It is feces that is the main cause of the spread of the disease. Upon contact with a person, the disease is easily tolerated. You can get this disease through unwashed hands and food purchased on the street (especially in open areas). The disease does not significantly affect people. Carriers are different types of street birds.
This infection is not fatal, but it causes unpleasant symptoms:
- stomach breakdown;
- poisoning (vomiting);
- unstable stools;
- slight pain in the abdomen.
The color of the chair is also a distinguishing feature. The infected will have a yellow-green color with a rather unpleasant odor. The temperature may also rise sharply and weakness may appear.
Listeriosis
Most birds suffer from this disease, pigeons are also its carriers. The disease, like tularemia, is caused by a tiny bacterium. The human body is resistant to infection, but there are still cases of infection.
The disease is transmitted in two ways: through the saliva and feces of a pigeon. Microbes can enter the body through the faecal-oral route, air and direct contact. Microbes live in feathers, feces and air.
The ingress of a microbe into the body does not give a 100% guarantee of infection. The human body can fight this disease in the bud, and as a result, everything will turn into a mild allergy.
If the immune system has failed, the first symptoms appear:
- the temperature rises sharply;
- rashes appear;
- lymph nodes increase in size;
- sore throat, meningitis appears;
If you do not turn to specialists in time, this ailment will develop into an acute form and end in death. The disease is often mild. The temperature may rise, possible vomiting.
If the disease is transmitted to a pregnant woman, the child automatically becomes sick. In the initial stages, you can do without drugs, but in severe forms, you need to resort to treatment (pills or antibiotics).
Pseudotuberculosis
Pigeons are one of the main distributors of pseudotuberculosis. It is transmitted through bacteria. The causative agent is the Yersinia bacteria. The microbe is found in feces.
You can get infected through water, food and feathers. Children are most often affected by this pathology. The stomach suffers first, then the spleen and liver. In children, the disease can cause allergies.
Symptoms:
- heat;
- dehydration of the body;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- disorder;
- possible discomfort in the abdomen.
Treatment is with antibiotics.
Psittacosis and Campylobacteriosis
The causative agent of psittacosis is chlamydia. They enter the body through the air. Chlamydiae enter the lungs, affect them, and eventually cause dry coughs, shortness of breath, and interruptions in the heartbeat. After that, the bacteria enters the bloodstream and eventually leads to dehydration.
Symptoms:
- heat;
- chills;
- pain in muscles and bones.
A dangerous virus can cause problems with the liver and spleen, and is chronic. You can become infected through skin contact, through the air, feathers and feces.
Campylobacteriosis does not manifest itself in any way in pigeons. A person can catch the disease through dirty hands or food that has been contaminated. When a disease enters the body, the first symptom is indigestion. Other signs of infection:
- nausea and weakness;
- erratic and watery stools;
- weight loss, loss of appetite;
- dehydration.
In women, one of the symptoms is vaginal irritation and discharge from the genital tract.
Toxoplasmosis and Newcastle disease
Golub - carriers of the disease toxoplasmosis. It is transmitted through poor, untreated meat and through direct contact. In adults, this disease is rare, more often in children. They are the ones who are at risk. People over 30 have immunity to this disease.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, headache, body aches, a sharp rise in temperature. If you start the disease and do not turn to specialists in time, this will lead to paralysis of the limbs, memory impairments and even mental disorders. Treatment with antibiotics is possible.
Newcastle disease is common among humans. The main vectors of the disease are chickens and pigeons. Disease by airborne droplets. If you touch the eye or nose with dirty, infected hands, infection is inevitable. Poultry workers and veterinarians are often infected.
Symptoms as for a common cold: cough, runny nose, dry mouth. Children are more difficult to tolerate this disease.
There are some rules that help protect yourself from disease. Should:
- less contact with animals on the street;
- wash your hands often;
- do not eat on the street;
- constantly clean air conditioners and fans.
Any disease can be cured and prevented by following standard hygiene practices. Being able to protect yourself means ensuring a healthy and quality life.