Prevalence and distribution of gastro-intestinal helminthes in local chickens in Al-Diwaniya region

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminthes infections in 100 adult local chickens from different places of Al-Diwaniya region. Ninety seven from the examined chickens (97%) were infected with one or more of gastro-intestinal helminthes; a total of eleven specie )5 species of cestode and 6 species of nematode) were detected, The species and their prevalences were: Raillietina echinobothrida (81.44%), Hymenolepis cantainana (65.97%), R. tetragona (59.79%), R.cesticillus (12.37%), Choanotaenia infundibulum (13.47%), Ascaridia galli (31.95%) , Heterakis gallinarum (24.74%),Epomidiostumum sp (12.37%),Dispharynx nasuta(5.15%) Tetrameres Americana. (5.15 %) and finally Amidostumum anseris (2.06%). No trematodes were found in present study. Mixed infections accounted for 87.63% as compared to 12.37% of single infections.Association between chicken sex infection with cestodes and nematodes was not significant (87.23%;34.04%in males and 88.67%. ;37.73% in females respectively .There was statistically significant differences(P<0.05) in the prevalence rates of cestodes (88%)and nematodes(36%). Most the parasites were found in the small intestine than the large intestine .Only Amidostumum anseris, Epomidiostumum sp. and Heterakis gallinarum were recovered from gizzard and caecum respectivelly. Amidostumum anseris and Epomidiostumum sp. were recorded for the first time in the chickens as intermediate host .This study is the first in the region.