Abstract
Background and Aim:Parasitic diseases are an important hurdle to the economy for the developing poultry industry due to their deleterious effects resulting into malnutrition, diminished feed conversion ratio, weight loss, decreased egg production, and mortality in young birds. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites in poultry farms of central plain zone of Punjab.Materials and Methods:A total of 490 pooled droppings and 351 intact intestines of poultry from slaughterhouses from seven districts of central plain zone of Punjab state, India, were collected and analyzed from September 2016 to May 2018 by qualitative and quantitative techniques.Results:An overall prevalence of GIT parasites was 38.36% with significantly (p<0.01) highest (74.1%) in Ludhiana and lowest (12.0%) in Shri Fatehgarh Sahib. The most predominant (86.2%) infection was coccidia. The birds reared under a deep litter system were having a higher (p<0.01) fecal load of helminthic eggs and coccidian oocysts (54.4%) compared to the cage system (37.5%). Infection rate was apparently more (40%) in broilers than layers (35.7%). Prevalence of GIT parasites was higher (p<0.01) in monsoon season (58.5%) and lower in summer season (24.48%). The broilers in the age group of 0-2 weeks possessed a significant higher (p<0.05) level of GIT parasitic infection (57.5%), while in case of layers, a higher infection rate (46.66%) was observed in birds between 9 and 18 weeks of age as compared in other groups. Higher (p<0.05) infection rate of GIT parasites was seen in crossbred (45.55%) birds as compared to desi birds (20.00%).Conclusion:The study showed that coccidiosis was the predominant infection among all GIT parasites based on fecal and intestinal tract content analysis. The risk factors associated with the prevalence of GIT parasitic infections were geographical location, deep litter system, broilers, age, crossbred breeds, and monsoon season.
Highlights
Poultry production is increasing rapidly due to the low establishment cost and efficiency of poultry to convert nutrients present in food stuffs into high value animal protein that contributes 30% of the world’s animal protein being consumed by humans
The study showed that coccidiosis was the predominant infection among all GIT parasites based on fecal and intestinal tract content analysis
The risk factors associated with the prevalence of GIT parasitic infections were geographical location, deep litter system, broilers, age, crossbred breeds, and monsoon season
Summary
Poultry production is increasing rapidly due to the low establishment cost and efficiency of poultry to convert nutrients present in food stuffs into high value animal protein that contributes 30% of the world’s animal protein being consumed by humans. The impact of parasitic diseases in birds reared under commercial production systems or cage systems, is decreasing due to modernization in poultry farming and biosecurity measures, the farm birds m aintained in deep litter system and backyard free-ranging system remains more prone to parasitic infections through consumption of contaminated feed and water. Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasitism in poultry results in adverse economic effects on production parameters in backyard or farmyard flocks in comparison to confinements rearing. The most prevalent endoparasitic infections in poultry are caused by cestodes, nematodes, and coccidiosis due to Eimeria spp. and oviduct fluke infection results in pathogenicity leading to morbidity, mortality, and economic losses [1]. Parasitic diseases are an important hurdle to the economy for the developing poultry industry due to their deleterious effects resulting into malnutrition, diminished feed conversion ratio, weight loss, decreased egg production, and mortality in young birds. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites in poultry farms of central plain zone of Punjab
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