Cross sectional epidemiological investigation on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in free range chickens in Narsingdi district, Bangladesh.

Rural poultry production in Bangladesh is mainly based on the free range or backyard poultry production system. This backyard poultry plays a vital tool for poverty alleviation as well as for empowerment of poor women of this country. However, this production system has disadvantage of susceptibility to many diseases including higher burden of parasitic infection. Therefore this cross sectional epidemiological investigation was done to determine the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal helminths in Narsingdi district, Bangladesh. To conduct this study a total of 150 chickens from three different villages of Narsingdi district, Bangladesh (50 chickens per village) were collected by random sampling method and killed by cervical disarticulation. Thereafter, all the chickens were necropsied and gastrointestinal tracts were examined macroscopically for the presence helminth infection. In total two nematode (Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum,) and one cestode (Raillietina spp.) were identified by post mortem examination. Raillietina spp. was detected as the most prevalent helminth species (86-92 %) followed by A. galli (70-86 %), and H. gallinarum (70-76 %) in studied villages. In some chickens petechial hemorrhage were observed in the small intestinal wall which was associated with the A. galli infection and for some birds white tiny nodules were detected in case of H. gallinarum infection. No significant difference in parasite prevalence was observed between male and female bird as well as among three studied villages (P > 0.05). We observed that most of chickens were infected with more than one species of parasites. This finding suggests that the poultry production system in rural areas of Bangladesh and the environmental conditions are very favourable for the transmission and persistence of the parasite species in rural areas of Bangladesh.

Survival of first stage larvae (L1) of Angiostrongylus vasorum under various conditions of temperature and humidity.

This experiment has been conducted to evaluate the viability of Angiostrongylus vasorum L1 under different conditions of temperature and humidity. In order to assess the viability, fox faecal pellets containing first stage larvae (L1) were exposed to relative humidity (RH) 95% and 75%, and to different temperatures (5°C, 18°C) and at fluctuating conditions ranging from -5°C to +5°C. Moreover, larval viability under outdoor conditions in April was also observed. Survival of the larvae was strongly influenced by temperature; however, humidity did not show any significant influence on viability. In controlled condition, 100% of the larvae were found motile and active; whereas, around 14% and 19% of the larvae kept at 5°C remained viable at RH 95% and RH 75%, respectively after 78 h. All of the larvae kept at 18°C died after 66 h. In outdoor condition, larval survivability reduced to 18% after 66 h, and in fluctuation temperature viable larvae were observed in both control and experimental conditions (15%) after 78 h.

Angiostrongylus vasorum: the 'French Heartworm'.

Angiostrongylus vasorum which is commonly known as 'French heartworm' is a snail-born parasitic disease affecting the members of the Canidae family. This parasite has a cosmopolitan distribution covering tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. However, its distribution is characterised by isolated endemic foci, with only sporadic occurrences outside this areas. During the last two decades, several sporadic occurrences in old and new endemic areas have been documented by the researchers. However, the spread of infection and dynamic consequences of this parasite in final host has not been clarified yet. Therefore, this review will focus on the morphology, biology, clinical significant as well as management of this parasitic disease.