No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

During a random survey of parasitisation of poultry birds of Kashmir, conducted for 3 years more than 300 poultry birds were randomly collected from different parts of the Kashmir valley and were examined for the helminth parasites. The most dominant group of parasites which was parasitizing the poultry birds was found to be the Cestode, whose prevalence in the infected birds was 76.9 %. Nematodes were found to be the second dominant group of parasites after cestodes with the prevalence of 70 %. Among the different species of nematodes Heterakis gallinae were found infecting almost all the birds autopsied. The highest intensity of H. gallinae might be because of the fact that it requires cockroaches, beetles and grasshoppers as intermediate hosts in addition of having a direct life cycle. Nematodes which were recovered from the intestine and gizzard of the birds belong to the genera Capillaria, Acuaria, Amidostomum, Streptocara, Heterakis, and Ascaridia.

The information on the epidemiology and control of coccidian parasites of broilers in Kashmir valley is based on the reports available from other regions of the world. With this background, the present study was conducted to investigate the seasonal prevalence of the disease in the temperate agro-climatic conditions of Kashmir valley. A standard protocol for sampling was followed according to which five birds per 10,000 is sufficient to diagnose coccidiosis. Microscopic examination (under 109 and 409 objective lens) was used to reveal the presence of coccidial oocysts. Different species of genus Eimeria were identified on the basis of their predilection site, morphology and size. Coccidiosis was most prevalent in autumn 45.12 ± 2.55 (September 47.5 %, October 42.42 % and November 45.46 %) followed by summer 30.84 ± 6.86, spring 23.81 ± 2.81 and winter 20.29 ± 6.40. In summer, prevalence of disease was low but afterwards prevalence of disease rose up from August to October. In spite of high relative humidity in winter, disease showed low prevalence rate. Over all prevalence for the whole year was 29.87 %. Among species Eimeria tenella was the most dominant parasite showing highest prevalence of 18.13 %. Variation in incidence of coccidiosis with respect to seasons showed a strong correlation and data was found to be statistically significant with P \ 0.05. The results obtained would be quite useful to devise appropriate and effective control strategies and prophylactic programs for coccidiosis in poultry unique to this climatic zone and other parts of the world with similar climatic and poultry production systems.