Abstract
Parasites constitute a major obstacle to poultry production, leading to significant losses in many poultry farms. This study investigated the parasites status of village chicken (Gallus domesticus) collected from selected communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria, during January to March 2020. A total of 35 birds were collected from 5 communities: Igbogeni, Tombia, Agudama, Akenfa and Opolo to assess their parasitic status. The procession of the chicken and the identifications of both ecto and endo parasites followed standard techniques. From the results, the prevalence of the ecto parasites and the endo parasites in the chickens were 85.71% and 88.57% respectively. The ectoparasites species in order of increasing frequency were Lice (37.65%), Fleas (32.94%), and Mites (29.41%). Mixed infection of lice & fleas accounted for 34.12%. The prevalence of endo parasites was: Nematode (71.59%) and Cestode (28.41%) respectively. The species specific prevalence of the endo parasites encountered were Ascaridia galli (44.4%), Heterakis gallinarum (22.2%), Capillaria spp. (33.3%), Davainea proglottina (56%), Raillientina spp. (44%) respectively. This present study has provided an insight into parasitic infection of domestic birds across communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria and recommended that an intensive health education on their public health implications in the spread disease causing pathogens among humans be carried out.
Highlights
Village chicken (Gallus domesticus) is the major species in the rural poultry sub-sector in Africa [1] [2]
This study investigated the parasites status of village chicken (Gallus domesticus) collected from selected communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria, during January to March 2020
The species specific prevalence of the endo parasites encountered were Ascaridia galli (44.4%), Heterakis gallinarum (22.2%), Capillaria spp. (33.3%), Davainea proglottina (56%), Raillientina spp. (44%) respectively. This present study has provided an insight into parasitic infection of domestic birds across communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State Nigeria and recommended that an intensive health education on their public health implications in the spread disease causing pathogens among humans be carried out
Summary
Village chicken (Gallus domesticus) is the major species in the rural poultry sub-sector in Africa [1] [2]. 71.3% prevalence of parasites was recorded among free range birds in the Southeastern part of Nigeria [6], 87.8% prevalence of helminth infection was recorded in Bauchi state [11], 81.5% of parasites were recorded in Kaduna State [12]) and 96.8% in Nsukka region of South Eastern Nigeria [4] while in Sokoto Metropolis, Bala, et al [13] recorded four ectoparasites in the order of magnitude; Lice (27.5%), Mites (17.5%), Ticks (14.4%), Fleas (10.6%). This is the first study to assess the parasites burden of village chicken in selected communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area. The result of this study shall establish the public health implications of parasites infected chickens and call for public health intervention
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
