Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety

Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2024, Pages 7–13

ISSN 2411-3174 (print version) ISSN 2411-0388 (online version)

MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE FERAL PIGEON’S (COLUMBA LIVIA F. URBANA) DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Кolomak I. O.

Poltava State Agrarian University, Poltava, Ukraine, e-mail: kolomak-ihor@ukr.net

Download PDF (print version)

Citation for print version: Кolomak, I. O. (2024) ‘Morphological features of the feral pigeon’s (Columba livia f. urbana) digestive system’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety, 10(1), pp. 7–13.

Download PDF (online version)

Citation for online version: Кolomak, I. O. (2024) ‘Morphological features of the feral pigeon’s (Columba livia f. urbana) digestive system’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety. [Online] 10(1), pp. 7–13. DOI: 10.36016/JVMBBS-2024-10-1-2.

Summary. Peculiarities of the morphological structure of the feral pigeon’s (Columba livia f. urbana) digestive system have been established. In the process of evolution, the digestive system has acquired certain anatomical changes that perform adaptive mechanisms for flying and egg-laying. In pigeons, the rostral part of the skull is represented by a beak consisting of an upper bill (maxilla) and gnathotheca (mandible) part. Due to the absence of a palatal fold, the digestive tract begins with the oropharynx, which lacks lips, teeth, and gums. The gorge is present in both sexes, consists of the right and left parts, and performs the function of accumulating fodder and secreting gorge milk, which is fed to the young through regurgitation. The mucous membrane of the esophagus forms longitudinal folds. There is a large number of digestive glands in the proventriculus. The cavity of the muscular stomach contains gastroliths, which act as teeth, ensuring grinding of food mass. The small intestine consists of the duodenum and ileum, which are joined by the mesentery and form three loops. The mucous membrane is developed, represented by numerous crypts that ensure the absorption of nutrients. The large intestine is represented by the paired rectal cecum and the rectum. The mucous membrane of the thick intestine is represented by leaf-like villi. The muscle layer is the most developed, myocytes are located in circular and longitudinal directions, forming folds

Keywords: anatomy, histology, synanthropic pigeons

References:

Adil, S. and Magray, S. N. (2012) ‘Impact and manipulation of gut microflora in poultry: A review’, Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11(6), pp. 873–877. doi: 10.3923/javaa.2012.873.877.

Bailey, T. A., MensahBrown, E. P., Samour, J. H., Naldo, J., Lawrence, P. and Garner, A. (1997) ‘Comparative morphology of the alimentary tract and its glandular derivatives of captive bustards’, Journal of Anatomy, 191(3), pp. 387–398. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1997.19130387.x.

Bindari, Y. R. and Gerber, P. F. (2022) ‘Centennial review: Factors affecting the chicken gastrointestinal microbial composition and their association with gut health and productive performance’, Poultry Science, 101(1), p. 101612. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101612.

CE (The Council of Europe). (1986) European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes. (European Treaty Series, No. 123). Strasbourg: The Council of Europe. Available at: https://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/treaties/html/123.htm.

CEC (The Council of the European Communities) (2010) ‘Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes’, The Official Journal of the European Communities, L 276, pp. 33–79. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/63/oj.

Gugołek, A., Jastrzębska, A. and Strychalski, J. (2016) ‘Use of pigeons and other bird species in human recreation’ [Wykorzystanie gołębi i innych gatunków ptaków w rekreacji człowieka], Wiadomości Zootechniczne, 54(2), pp. 90–95. URL: https://wz.izoo.krakow.pl/files/WZ_2016_2_art13.pdf. [in Polish].

Hamdi, H., El-Ghareeb, A.-W., Zaher, M. and AbuAmod, F. (2013) ‘Anatomical, histological and histochemical adaptations of the avian alimentary canal to their food habits: II — Elanus caeruleus’, International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 4(10), pp. 1355–1364. URL: https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/anatomical-histological-and-histochemical-adaptations-of-the-avian-alimentary.pdf.

Hamoda, H. and Farag, A. (2018) ‘Histological characterizations of the gut associated lymphatic tissue in pigeon’, Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 59(2), p. 157–164. doi: 10.5455/ajvs.16178.

Klasing, K. C. (1999) ‘Avian gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology’, Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 8(2), pp. 42–50. doi: 10.1016/S1055-937X(99)80036-X.

Kolomak, I. O. and Kruchynenko, O. V. (2017) ‘Bird lice (Mallophaga, Philopteridae, Menoponidae) of domestic pigeons on specialized pigeon breeding farms in Poltava’, Vestnik Zoologii, 51(6), pp. 487–492. URL: http://mail.izan.kiev.ua/vz-pdf/2017/6/Kolomak.pdf.

Lavin, S. R., Karasov, W. H., Ives, A. R., Middleton, K. M. and Garland Jr., T. (2008) ‘Morphometrics of the avian small intestine compared with that of nonflying mammals: A phylogenetic approach’, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 81(5), pp. 526–550. doi: 10.1086/590395.

Lee, K.-C., Kil, D. Y. and Sul, W. J. (2017) ‘Cecal microbiome divergence of broiler chickens by sex and body weight’, Journal of Microbiology, 55(12), pp. 939–945. doi: 10.1007/s12275-017-7202-0.

McWhorter, T. J., CaviedesVidal, E. and Karasov, W. H. (2009) ‘The integration of digestion and osmoregulation in the avian gut’, Biological Reviews, 84(4), pp. 533–565. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00086.x.

Nasrin, M. Siddiqi, M. N. H. Masum M. A. and Wares M. A. (2012) ‘Gross and histological studies of digestive tract of broilers during postnatal growth and development’, Journal of Bangladesh Agricultural University, 10(1), pp. 69–77. URL: https://baures.bau.edu.bd/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/12-JBAU-480-11.pdf.

Oakley, B. B., Lillehoj, H. S., Kogut, M. H., Kim, W. K., Maurer, J. J., Pedroso, A., Lee, M. D., Collett, S. R., Johnson, T. J. and Cox, N. A. (2014) ‘The chicken gastrointestinal microbiome’, FEMS Microbiology Letters, 360(2), pp. 100–112. doi: 10.1111/1574-6968.12608.

Price, E. R., Brun, A., Caviedes-Vidal, E. and Karasov, W. H. (2015) ‘Digestive adaptations of aerial lifestyles’, Physiology, 30(1), pp. 69–78. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00020.2014.

Ratnayani, K., Suter, I. K., Antara, N. S. and Putra, I. N. K. (2019) ‘Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of pigeon pea protein isolate’, International Food Research Journal, 26, pp. 1397–1404. URL: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/26%20(04)%202019/30%20-%20IFRJ19030.R1-Final.pdf.

Santos, H. M., Tsai, C.-Y., Catulin, G. E. M., Trangia, K. C. G., Tayo, L. L., Liu, H.-J. and Chuang, K. P. (2020) ‘Common bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases in pigeons (Columba livia): A review of diagnostic and treatment strategies’, Veterinary Microbiology, 247, p. 108779. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108779.

Scanes, C. G. and Dridi, S. (eds.) (2021). Sturkie’s Avian Physiology. 7th ed. San Diego: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/C2019-0-00060-X.

Scanes, C. G. and Pierzchala-Koziec, K. (2014) ‘Biology of the gastrointestinal tract in poultry’, Avian Biology Research, 7(4), pp. 193–222. doi: 10.3184/175815514X14162292284822.

Simmonds, R. C. (2017) ‘Chapter 4. Bioethics and animal use in programs of research, teaching, and testing’, in Weichbrod, R. H., Thompson, G. A. and Norton, J. N. (eds.) Management of Animal Care and Use Programs in Research, Education, and Testing. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 35–62. doi: 10.1201/9781315152189-4.

VRU (Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy) (2006) ‘Law of Ukraine No. 3447-IV of 21.02.2006About protection of animals from cruel treatment’ [Zakon Ukrainy № 3447-IV vid 21.02.2006 ‘Pro zakhyst tvaryn vid zhorstokoho povodzhennia’], News of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [Vidomosti Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy], 27, art. 230. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/3447-15. [in Ukrainian].

Wang, F., Zhang, X., Zhong, Y., Tang, X., Hu, X., Yang, S., Zhong, S., Zhou, Z., Liu, J., Yuan, X. and Li, Y. (2020) ‘Expression and localization of VIP in different segments of pigeon intestine’, Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 52(6), pp. 2299–2304. doi: 10.17582/journal.pjz/20200208160224.