ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of ecto-, endo- and haemoparasites in free-range chickens from the Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe. Fifty young and 50 adult birds were selected randomly. All chickens harboured ecto- and endoparasites, and 32% were infected with haemoparasites. Eight different ectoparasites were identified; the more prevalent ones had the following prevalences (young, %; adult, %): Argas persicus (6; 14), Cnemidocoptes mutans (6; 32), Echidnophaga gallinacea (72; 74), Goniocotes gallinae (0; 22), Menacanthus stramenius (90; 88) and Menopon gallinea (24; 66). The prevalences of C. mutans, G. gallinae and M. gallinae were higher in adults compared to young chickens. The mean (+/-S.D.) number of helminth species per chicken was 6.7+/-2.0 for young chickens and 6.4+/-2.0 for adult chickens with a range of 1-10 for young chickens and a range of 1-11 for adult chickens. The most prevalent nematodes identified were (with prevalence in % for young/adult birds): Allodapa suctoria (76; 72), Ascaridia galli (48; 24), Gongylonema ingluvicola (28; 56), Heterakis gallinarum (64; 62) and Tetrameres americana (70; 62). For cestodes the prevalences were: Amoebotaenia cuneata (60; 68), Hymenolepis spp. (62; 80), Raillietina echinobothrida (66; 34), Raillietina tetragona (94; 100) and Skrjabinia cesticillus (50; 76). The young chickens had higher prevalences of A. galli and R. echinobothrida compared to adults, but lower prevalence of G. ingluvicola and S. cesticillus. Eimeria spp. oocysts were isolated in 36% of 47 investigated samples. The prevalence was 47% for young chickens and 18% for adult chickens. Prevalences (in %) of haemoparasites in young and adult chickens were: Aegyptinella pullorum (7; 6), Leucocytozoon sabrazesi (3; 1), Plasmodium gallinaceum (8; 6) and Trypanosoma avium (2; 3).
Subject(s)
Chickens/parasitology , Nematoda/classification , Nematoda/isolation & purification , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiology , Poultry Diseases/epidemiology , Poultry Diseases/parasitology , Animals , Cross-Sectional Studies , Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/parasitology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/pathology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/veterinary , Hematologic Diseases/complications , Hematologic Diseases/epidemiology , Hematologic Diseases/parasitology , Hematologic Diseases/veterinary , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/complications , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/pathology , Poultry Diseases/pathology , Prevalence , Skin Diseases/complications , Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Skin Diseases/parasitology , Skin Diseases/veterinary , ZimbabweABSTRACT
A survey to determine the nematode species in rural chickens reared extensively was carried out in six districts of Zimbabwe. Two-hundred-and-seventy chickens were randomly collected from the districts and processed for helminth recovery. One genus and 10 species were identified from the gastrointestinal tract but no parasites were found in the respiratory tract and eyes. Skrjabinocerca sp., Capillaria obsignata, Capillaria contorta and Trichostrongylus tenuis are new records in Zimbabwe. Allodapa brumpti and Tetrameres americana were the most common species with a prevalence of 64.8% and 64.1%, respectively.