new species of COTUGNIA [cestoda: davaineidae] from domestic pigeon in Saudi Arabia, with reference to two other known species

ABSTRACT

A survey of the parasitic cestodes of the domestic pigeon Columba livia damsetica gets conducted from 1981 to 1982. Pigeons were obtained from the west region of Saudi Arabia. Cotugnia meggitti and Cotugnia cuneata were recovered and redescribed from the duodenum of the host. These two cestodes are cosmopolitan in their distribution, but are reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia. During parasitological examination of the pigeons, several individuals were found to harbour a new species of Catugnia in the jejunum. The present study was designed to provide informations about the cestode parasites of the domestic pigeon in Saudi Arabia. It also records a near species of the genus Cotugnia, Cotugnia arabia from Columba livia domestica