Contact with pigeon droppings may pose a small health risk. Three human diseases are known to be associated with pigeon droppings: histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis. In addition, salmonella, a bacteria type, may be present, although our pigeons are screened and are free of the pathogen paratyphoid, which is at the root of salmonella bacteria, on arrival to our facility. We work under the assumption that some bacteria is present (i.e., E. coli or salmonella) anyway, just to practice good safety standards.
Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a fungus, which grows in pigeon droppings. It also grows in soils and is found throughout the world. Infection can only result if people are exposed to high amounts of pigeon excrement and may breathe in some fungus related to it. Common activities such as cleaning cages does not constitute high exposure.
Symptoms of histoplasmosis begin to appear about 10 days after initial infection and include fatigue, fever, and chest pains. Most people, however, do not show any symptoms. Those with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients or people living with HIV/AIDS are generally more at risk of developing histoplasmosis. The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease associated with pigeon droppings and also grows in soils throughout the world. It is very unlikely that healthy people will become infected even at high levels of exposure. A major risk factor for infection is a compromised immune system. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 85 percent of cryptococcosis patients are HIV-positive.
Psittacosis (also known as ornithosis or parrot fever) is a rare infectious disease that mainly affects parrots and parrot-like birds such as cockatiels, and parakeets, but may also affect other birds, such as pigeons. Our pigeons are screend for this and are free of this pathogen (ornithosis) on arrival.
In humans, this bacterial disease is characterized by: fatigue, fever, headache, rash, chills, and sometimes pneumonia. Symptoms develop about 10 days after exposure. Psittacosis can be treated with a common antibiotic. Since 1996, fewer than 50 confirmed cases were reported in the United States annually.
Our pigeons are also screened for tuberculosis and are free of this on arrival. They are also free of any parasites on arrival.
Individuals who have had allergic reactions to pets or to dander in the past should wear dust-masks, provided in the facility, when in contact with pigeons or in the pigeon room.
Return to Species Specific Training: Pigeons.