A description of village chicken production systems and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites: Case studies in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa

Abstract

The majority of rural households in developing countries own village chickens that are reared under traditional scavenging systems with few inputs and exposure to various parasitic infestations. Understanding of the village chicken farming system and its influence on helminth infestation is a prerequisite for optimal prevention and control strategies. This study investigated the village chicken production system and associated gastrointestinal parasites in 87 households from Limpopo (n = 39) and KwaZulu-Natal (n = 48) provinces of South Africa. A total of 191 village chicken faecal samples and 145 intestines were collected to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in villages of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, respectively. The faecal floatation analysis of samples from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces indicated infestations by Ascaridia galli (18.77%), Heterakis gallinarum (15.56%) and Capillaria spp. (4.00%); tapeworms Choanotaenia infundibulum (2.10%) and Raillietina cesticillus (6.00%) and Eimeria spp. (29.46%). Mixed infestations were observed in five (4.90%) samples from Limpopo province and in only four (4.49%) from KwaZulu-Natal province, of which 1.12% were a mixture of C. infundibulum and Eimeria spp. and 3.37% a combination of H. gallinarum and Eimeria spp. In Limpopo, 2.94% of the chickens were positive for H. gallinarum and Eimeria spp., whilst 0.98% had A. galli and Capillaria spp. infestations. Further investigation is needed to understand the impact of gastrointestinal parasites on village chicken health and production and develop appropriate intervention and control strategies feasible for small-holder farmers.

Comparative morphology and biology of nematodes of genus Heterakis (Nematoda, Heterakidae), parasites of the domestic goose (Anser anser) in Ukraine

“…The species H. gallinarum was found in domestic geese for the first time in Ukraine. According to many studies, the latter species is widely distributed in domestic, synanthropic and wild terrestrial birds all over the world (Menezes et al, 2001;Malatji et al, 2016;Wuthijaree et al, 2017). In our opinion, H. gallinarum adapted to parasitizing geese that were cross-infected when kept together with chickens and turkeys.…”

Indoor Temperatures in Patient Waiting Rooms in Eight Rural Primary Health Care Centers in Northern South Africa and the Related Potential Risks to Human Health and Wellbeing

“…Mopani District in Limpopo Province is situated within the subtropical zone. During the summer months, maximum temperatures of 38 °C have been recorded [ 17 ]. Owing to increasing ambient temperatures and known long waiting periods in clinics without cooling systems, the aim of this study was to measure waiting room temperatures at rural primary health care centers over a five-month period in the southern hemisphere summer in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province.…”

A Systems Analysis and Conceptual System Dynamics Model of the Livestock-derived Food System in South Africa: A Tool for Policy Guidance

“…This presents a significant barrier for small and even medium-scale producers to enter this predominantly high-end value chain. Similar to elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, livestock-keeping among smallholders and subsistence farmers is primarily for financial and social capital, as well as for cultural purposes (Mahlobo, 2016;Malatji et al, 2016). With an overall trend, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, toward urbanization, with aspirations of a "modern lifestyle," livestock ownership and the agricultural life become the less attractive and realistic livelihood choice.…”

“…Three major vertically integrated producers (controlling their breeding, feed manufacture, slaughter, meat processing, and distribution), are responsible for 53% of total production (DAFF, 2017b). Small-scale producers mainly sell live birds, and most households keep backyard chickens (Louw et al, 2017;Malatji, Tsotetsi, van Marle-Koster, & Muchadeyi, 2016). The commercial layer industry is similar, dominated by three vertically integrated companies producing 51% of the total eggs.…”