Effect of ascaridia galli infestation on body weight, vitamin A and some blood constituents in chicken

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was planned to study the effect of Ascaridia galli infestation on the average body weight, carotenoids, vitamin A, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, sodium, potassium and magnesium of 80 chickens at 7, 14, 28 and 49 days post infestation during the tissue and intestinal phases of the parasite. The results indicated that the maximal average live body weight was observed in case of noninfested control chickens, severe retardation of growth of infested chicken was noticed after 49 days post infestation during the intestinal phase of the parasite. The levels of serum carotenoids, serum vitamin A, liver carotenoids and liver vitamin A of infested chicken after 28 and 49 days post-infestation during the intestinal phase of the parasite, recorded a significant decrease than control ones. Also, there is a significant lowering in serum calcium, sodium and potassium levels of infested chicken after 28 and 49 days post infestation, however, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium levels showed a significant increase above respective control