Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of Gallus gallus raised in extensive system in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Marisa Caixeta Valadão,Jackson Victor De Araújo,Rafaela Teixeira Magalhães,Lorendane Millena De Carvalho,Paulo Henrique Neves,Ítalo Stoupa Vieira,Artur Kanadani Campos

doi:10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm002121

Marisa Caixeta Valadão, Jackson Victor De Araújo + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm002121

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Abstract

Extensive rearing systems enable higher occurrence of helminths, which is a hindrance in poultry farming, significantly affecting productivity. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in chickens reared in extensive system in the city of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil between December 2017 to September 2018. A total of 5579 specimens were recovered from the gastrointestinal tracts of most animals (81.55% of prevalence). Of the positive birds, only 41.67% had mixed infections, and of these, more than 90% were nematodes and cestodes co-infections. Three nematodes (Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, Capillaria sp.), seven cestodes (Raillietina tetragona, R. echinobothrida, R. cesticillus, Choanotaenia infundibulum, Hymenolepis cantaniana, H. carioca and Davainea proglottina) and two trematodes (Postharmostomum commutatum and Echinostoma sp.) species were identified. The most dominant helminth species was H. gallinarum (60.19%), which also presented higher average intensity (35.46 ± 0.65) and abundance (21.34 ± 3.01) among all recovered species. The tapeworm species correspond to 42.23% of prevalence and the trematodes correspond to only 3.40%. Despite the scarcity of data in the Brazilian literature on poultry helminths reared in extensive systems, regional parasitological surveys are important. It is expected that these results will contribute to the adoption of prophylactic measures and alternative control strategies in order to reduce the risk of helminth infection in poultry

Highlights

Extensive poultry production systems are intended to promote the natural behavior of animals, and consumers play a considerable role in their recent preference for healthier and more natural food sources (Lozano et al, 2019)
It is expected that these results will contribute to the adoption of prophylactic measures and alternative control strategies in order to reduce the risk of helminth infection in poultry
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal helminths in poultry reared in an extensive system in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to contribute to the search for new control strategies for the main parasitosis

Summary

Introduction

Extensive poultry production systems are intended to promote the natural behavior of animals, and consumers play a considerable role in their recent preference for healthier and more natural food sources (Lozano et al, 2019). These systems are characterized by high levels of helminth infections, usually accompanied by reduced production performance and behavioral changes which could indicate reduced animal welfare in chickens (Tamara et al, 2019; Thapa et al, 2015). Studies on the occurrence and intensity of infection of G. gallus gastrointestinal helminths are scarce in the Brazilian literature, and studies from different regions may help to better understand the hostparasite relationship in poultry (Gomes et al, 2009; Silva et al, 2016, 2018; Vieira et al, 2015)

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