Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of local chickens from selected communities in Nsukka region of south eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of local chickens in Nsukka region of Southeastern Nigeria was studied using 125 free range local birds purchased from four communities in Nsukka zone namely, Obolloafor, Orba, Nsukka urban and Owerre Eze-orba. The birds were sacrificed humanely and their oesophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine and caecum examined for the presence of gastrointestinal helminths. Worms when present were isolated and identified using standard parasitological procedures. The study identified four species of cestodes namely Raillietina echinobothridia, R. tetragona, R. cesticillus and Choanotaenia infundibulum and two species of nematodes namely, Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum. Results obtained showed 96.8 % prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in the birds with cestodes being the more prevalent class (70.4 %). Raillietina spp was the most prevalent cestode encountered and A. galli the most prevalent nematode. Prevalence rates of infections recorded 14.4 % for nematode species, 26.4 % for cestodes and 56 % for mixed infections of nematodes and cestodes. It was concluded that local chickens are common in the area and could serve as a potential source of helminth infections to intensively managed birds in the study area.

Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites of Chicken under Different Management System in Mekelle Town, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

“…Among the cestode parasite species of chicken revealed from the current study, Raillietina echinobothrida was the most abundant one (54.6%) which was lower than that reported from Nsukka region, Nigeria (64.5%) [22]. However, it was much higher than the study conducted in north Gondar zone, Ethiopia, with 29.62 [25] and Iran with 6% prevalence [26].…”

“…This study showed that vast majority (87.7%) of the chickens in the study area harbored multiple (more than one) species of helminth parasites, in which their combined devastating effects on the host metabolism play a major role in early chick mortality and other production losses among adults [21]. However, this finding was different when comparing with findings reported from both Nsukka region 56% [22] and Giwa local government areas of Nigeria 60.5% [18], which strongly suggests that the prevailing environmental conditions in Ethiopia may be favorable to their simultaneous development. Feeding choice of the chickens may also affect the situation.…”

Haemato-biochemical changes and prevalence of parasitic infections of indigenous chicken sold in markets of Kiambu County, Kenya

“…In Kenya, few studies have been done on ecto-and haemoparasitism of free-range poultry to date [18][19][20] while, literature on prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of marketed local chickens is limited to work done by Kyalo [21] and Maina et al [22]. Given that the prevalence of parasites vary considerably from one geographic region to another [23], it is therefore, necessary for periodic surveillance of the prevalence of these parasites within a given locality for successful formulation and implementation of an effective control strategy [24].…”

Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Chicken Slaughtered in Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt

“…Lower prevalence of 30.15%, 22.3% and 22.4% was recorded A. galli by[19,32,33]. On the contrary, A. galli had the highest prevalence rate in both local and exotic breed among the helminths though with very low prevalence 6.0% as reported by Ola-Fadunsin et al[34] in March Khan et al 2016.…”