Gastrointestinal parasites of different avian species in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria.

Shola Fadunsin,Idiat Sanda,Patricia Uwabujo,Salamat Musa,Isau Ganiyu,Karimat Hussain,Nathan Furo,Musa Rabiu

doi:10.5455/javar.2019.f320

Shola Fadunsin, Idiat Sanda + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2019.f320

Copy DOI

Abstract

Objective:The current study aimed to determine the prevalence, infection burden, and risk factors associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in different avian species in Ilorin, Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted in Ilorin, involving 597 fecal samples and GI tracts from a variety of sold and slaughtered avian species. The study was conducted between September 2017 and February 2018. Fecal samples were examined using floatation technique, while the GI tracts were examined for gross helminths and its content were subjected to the direct wet mount examination. Data were analyzed using percentages (descriptive) and the Chi-square (१) test (inferential). p < 0.05 was considered significant for all analysis.Results:Ten GI parasites were detected with Eimeria species (32.83%), Ascaridia galli (30.15%) and Heterakis gallinarum (24.79%) as the most prevalent ones. Multiple parasites co-infection was recorded in all the avian species: broilers (77.78%), layers (33.33%), cockerels (45.16%), indigenous chickens (17.91%), ducks (69.70%), pigeons (94.12%), turkeys (47.83%), and guinea fowls (77.36%). Pigeons (100.00%) and turkeys (95.65%) were the most infected avian species. Age, sex, and avian types were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the occurrence of GI parasites infection.Conclusion:This study gives a reflection of the GI parasites fauna of avian species in Nigeria. The GI parasites are endemic among different avian species in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. Knowledge on the epidemiology of these parasites is important in instituting a good preventive and control measures against GI parasites, so as to have maximum production and reproduction effects in the poultry industry.

Highlights

Avian species refers basically to domestic birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, guinea fowls, peasants, pigeons, and more recently ostriches that are kept for meat or egg production [1].Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are considered as major problems for efficient production of avian species, which lead to economic losses due to reduced productivity, decreased feed conversion ratio and poor weight gain, reduced egg production, catarrh, anorexia, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, emaciation, anemia, weakness, paralysis, poor feathering, and even death [2,3,4].Parasites that commonly invade the GI tract of avian species in the broad sense are helminths and protozoans [5]
The GI parasites are endemic among different avian species in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria
Six GI parasites were detected in cockerels (Eimeria species, A. galli, R. tetragona, Strongyloides avium, H. gallinarum, and S. trachea) and ducks (Eimeria species, A. galli, H. gallinarum, S. brumpti, C. annulata, and R. echinobothrida), while nine parasites were detected in the indigenous chickens (Eimeria species, A. galli, R. tetragona, S. avium, H. gallinarum, S. trachea, S. brumpti, C. annulata, and R. echinobothrida) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are considered as major problems for efficient production of avian species, which lead to economic losses due to reduced productivity, decreased feed conversion ratio and poor weight gain, reduced egg production, catarrh, anorexia, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, emaciation, anemia, weakness, paralysis, poor feathering, and even death [2,3,4]. Parasites that commonly invade the GI tract of avian species in the broad sense are helminths and protozoans [5]. Helminth parasites of poultry are generally cestodes, nematodes, and trematodes, of which the nematodes are regarded as the most important group considering both number of species and the harms they cause. Eimeria is the major GI protozoan affecting avian species in their intestinal tracts [8]. Multiple GI parasitic infection is a common phenomenon in poultry, affecting their normal activities which is manifested mainly by severe pains [9]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion