Pigeon Poop Shooting Game

People living in high-rises and apartment complexes flocked by pigeons have a reason to worry. According to veterinary microbiologists from Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University (KVAFSU), the numerous pathogens in the bird droppings can cause as many as 60 different types of diseases.
The veterinary microbiologists, researching into the spread of disease causing pathogens from pigeon droppings, have now taken to awareness campaigns to tell people about the ill-effects of pigeon droppings on humans. Dr KM Chandrashekar, assistant professor, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary College (Hassan), who has been spearheading the awareness programme, said that these birds are capable of introducing parasites, ticks and fleas into the surrounding environment through their droppings.
'Wild birds usually carry more disease than companion birds. Pet birds' immune system may be less capable of fighting these pathogens which may become airborne. Humans coming in direct contact with these droppings or inhaling the aerosols resulting from dried droppings, may contract various diseases,' Chandrashekar told BM.
Another veterinary microbiologist from KVAFSU Dr R Sharada said, 'As birds are uricotelic, they excrete nitrogenous waste from bloodstream as uric acid instead of urea and ammonia. Birds do not have a urinary bladder and uric acid is excreted along with faeces.' She said pigeon excreta favoured the growth of fungi and faecal ammonia could cause irritation and respiratory disorders. 'One must be careful not to step on droppings.'
'Studies have shown that about 60 different diseases could spread through these droppings,' Chandrashekar clarified, adding that once inhaled, these pathogens could affect spleen and liver. The symptoms range from minor influenza to high fever, blood abnormalities, and pneumonia.
Similarly, pigeon droppings are the most important source of yet another fungus Crypto-coccus neoformans found in accumulations of droppings around roosting sites. 'From the primary pulmonary foci, the pathogens spread hematogenously to other organs, like central nervous system and if untreated the disease would be fatal,' Chadrashekhar added.
Dr Sivasaktivel, senior research associate at the Environmental Science Department of Bangalore University, in his PhD thesis submitted to the university last year, said, 'Tests at the upwind (upstream) area of pigeon colonies revealed no pathogens but the downwind (downstream) areas revealed huge quantities of pathogens.' These pathogens are said to cause diseases like dysentery, typhoid, bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis.
HOW TO BE SAFE
Dr R Sharada said the best way to safeguard oneself was to use disposable protective gloves, shoe covering and masks while cleaning. 'One should wear masks with filter particles as small as 0.3 microns. It is better to moisten the droppings with little water to keep spores from becoming airborne,' she said. The cleaned droppings must be preserved in sealed bags and the outside of the bags must be rinsed off before disposal at designated places.
Maladies from pigeon droppings
· Bacterial: E.Coli, Salmonella, listeriosis, Campylobacteriosis, Psittacosis, Avian tuberculosis
· Fungal: Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis and Candidiasis
· Viral: Bird flu, Newcastle disease
· Parasitic/Protozoal: Toxoplasmosis Trichomoniasis

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