Abstract
The prevalence, intensity and morpho-variants of new species of haemosporida (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) from the rock pigeon, Columba livia are described and illustrated for the first time from Uttar Pradesh state of India. Thin blood smears from 266 C. livia indicated 55.63% (Haemoproteus) and 6.76% (Plasmodium) prevalence and 1-6 pars/100 RBC's (Haemoproteus) and 1-2 pars/100 RBC's (Plasmodium) intensity of infection. The fully grown intracellular gametocytes of Haemoproteus were differentiated into microgametocyte (14.0 × 4.3 μm) and macrogametocyte (13.9 × 4.7 μm). Extracorpuscular gametocyte (15.0-17.8 μm in length, 3.9-7.3 μm in width) were occasionally visible. Nuclear displacement ratio was 0.2. Plasmodium species was characterized by rounded schizonts and elongated microgametocyte (7.8 × 7.6 μm) and macrogametocyte (7.8 × 7.7 μm) with irregular margins. Cells containing schizonts are often rounded and enlarged and those parasitized by gametocytes may be somewhat distorted in shape by lateral hypertrophy. Host cell nuclei are also displaced. Double gametocyte infection of Haemoproteus occasionally present but that of Plasmodium lacking.