Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites of backyard chickens (Gallus domesticus) in and around Shimoga

Abstract

The present study was conducted for 1 year from March 2010 to February 2011 to identify gastrointestinal parasites of backyard chickens and to estimate its prevalence in and around Shimoga, a malnad region of Karnataka. A total of 250 gastro-intestinal tracts were collected from backyard chickens for the detection of gastrointestinal parasites. Among the 250 birds screened, 183 (73.2 %) were found positive for gastrointestinal parasites by gross examination of gastrointestinal tract. Out of 183 positive cases, 94 (51.36 %) were found positive for cestodes, includes 73 (77.6 %) Raillietina tetragona, 12 (12.8 %) Raillietina echinobothrida and 9 (9.6 %) Raillietina cesticillus. Whereas, 53 (28.96 %) were found harbouring nematode parasites includes 33 (62.3 %) had Ascaridia galli, 12 (22.6 %) had Heterakis gallinarum and 8 (15.1 %) had both A. galli and H. gallinarum infection. The remaining 36 (19.67 %) had mixed infections of both cestode and nematode parasites. The microscopic examination of the gut contents and faecal samples showed presence of coccidian oocysts and eggs of A. galli, H. gallinarum and Capillaria spp. respectively.

Characterisation of gastrointestinal helminths and their impact in commercial small-scale chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

“…Studies on gastrointestinal helminths performed in other countries in Asia show high (> 72%) but variable levels of Pos. positive, SD standard deviation nematode colonisation in so-called 'backyard' and 'local' flocks presumably raised for meat at the end of production, with H. gallinarum and A. galli being the two most common nematode species (Abdelqader et al 2008, Katoch et al 2012Alam et al 2014;Javaregowda et al 2016;Butboonchoo and Wongsawad 2017;Wuthijaree et al 2018). The relatively lower prevalence of colonisation in birds in our 'normal' flocks compared with published surveys probably reflects the fact that these flocks were mostly raised in confined conditions.…”

Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among grey-breasted helmet guinea fowls (Numida meleagris galeata) encountered in Gombe state, Nigeria

“…In this way of their feeding habit, they eat grasses, insects, house refuse, flies, cockroaches, ants, beetles, earthworms etc. [3] , [6] , many of which serve as intermediate hosts of helminth parasites. Therefore, this scavenging habit increases their risks of contracting gastrointestinal helminthes either by directly eating the worm larva or indirectly the intermediate hosts.…”

“…In contrast, the intensive system is mainly practiced by commercial poultry farmers; where it is more organized in terms of adequate provision of good housing facilities, veterinary consultation services, welfare of the birds and disease treatment and control etc [5] . In this system, the provision of effective biosecurity measures and adoption of modern technology has greatly lowered the negative impact posed by parasitic diseases among birds managed under the intensive cage systems [6] .…”

Characterisation of gastrointestinal helminths and their impact in commercial small-scale chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

“…broilers), and are normally associated with poor biosecurity and deficient terminal cleaning and disinfection (Permin and Hansen 1998). Studies on gastrointestinal helminths performed in other countries in Asia show high (>72%) but variable levels of nematode colonisation in so-called ‘backyard’ and ‘local’ chicken flocks at the end of production, with H. gallinarum and A. galli being the two most common nematode species (Abdelqader et al 2008, Alam et al 2014, Butboonchoo and Wongsawad 2017, Javaregowda et al 2016, Katoch et al 2012b, Wuthijaree et al 2018). The relatively lower prevalence of colonization in birds in our normal flocks compared with published surveys probably reflect the fact that these flocks were all raised in confined conditions most of the time.…”