Diversity of Parasitic Fauna in Semi-Scavenging Indigenous Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Parasites are a major concern for profitable poultry production worldwide as they impede the health, welfare and production performance of poultry.

Objectives: The present study was designed to detect the diversity of parasitic fauna and associated factors of gastrointestinal (GI) helminths and lice in indigenous chickens.

Methods: A total of 310 indigenous chickens were collected from different villages at Gauripur and Mymensingh Sadar, Mymensingh, and Bangladesh, and various parasites were identified.

Results: Out of 310 indigenous semi-scavenging chickens, 281 were infected with one or more species of helminths with an overall prevalence of 90.6%. The identified species of helminths were Ascaridia galli (60.6%), Heterakis gallinarum (29.0%) and Cheilospirura hamulosa (14.2%), Catatropis verrucosa (7.7%), Echinostoma revolutum (7.4%), Raillietina spp. (76.5%) and Hymenolepis spp. (5.8%). The prevalence of lice infestations was 74.2%, and identified species were Menopon gallinae (72.6%), Goniodes gigas (11.6%) and Lipeurus caponis (10.3%). Co-infections with helminths were 65.8% and with lice were 19.4% in chickens. Univariate analysis was performed to measure the association between predictor variables and parasitic infections by considering several biotic and abiotic variables, including age, sex, flock size, farming nature, use of anthelmintic/insecticides and socio-economic status of owners. No significant (p < 0.05) variation was found in helminth infections but large flock size (87.0%) and mixed farming nature (81.2%) were significantly associated with lice infestations in chickens.

Conclusions: Awareness related to the management system of chickens rearing need to be increased for formulating control strategy against parasitic infections in indigenous chickens in Bangladesh.

Keywords: chickens; ecto‐parasites; helminths; lice; prevalence.

FIGURE 1

Map of study area. The semi‐scavenging indigenous chickens were collected from different villages at Gauripur and Mymensingh Sadar upazila, Mymensingh district.

FIGURE 2

Microscopic features of nematodes isolated from indigenous semi‐scavenging chickens. (A) Ascaridia galli, three lips at the anterior end (a) and simple oesophagus with no posterior bulb (b), vulvar opening of female (b), circular precloacal sucker (c), spicule (d) with a thick cuticular rim (e) of male. (B) Heterakis gallinarum, oesophagus with strong posterior bulb (a), tail of female (b), a prominent circular precloacal sucker (c) and unequal spicules (d) of male. (C) Cheilospirura hamulosa, cordon present at the anterior portion (a), pre‐cloacal (b) and post‐cloacal (d) papillae of male and tapering end of female (e).

FIGURE 3

Microscopic features of trematodes recovered from indigenous semi‐scanenging chickens. (A) Catatropis verrucosa, oral sucker (a), uterus transversely coiled (b), testes horizontal at the posterior end of the body (c), ovary (d) in between testes (c). (B) Echinostoma revolutum, head collar with spines (a), large posterior (b) in anterior portion, ovary pretesticular (c) and lobulated testes tandem in position (d).

FIGURE 4

Microscopic features of cestodes collected from indigenous semi‐scavenging chickens. (A) Scolex of Raillietina with armed rostellum (R) and four suckers (S) in scolex; (B) segment of Raillietina, egg within egg capsule (EC); (C) scolex of Hymenolepis with armed rostellum (R) and four suckers (S) in scolex; (D) segment of Hymenolepis having single set of reproductive organ (arrow).

FIGURE 5

Morphological features of lice collected from indigenous chickens. (A) Menopon gallinae (10×); head rounded and broader than thorax (a), antenna lies in a groove (b), two claws in each tarsus (c), one row of abdominal setae in each segment (d). (B) Goniodes gigas (10×); head is rounded and broader than thorax (a), antenna with five segments (b), two claws in each tarsus (c). (C) Lipeurus caponis (10×); head longer than wide (a), antenna with five segments (b), first pair of leg shorter (c), two claws in each tarsus (d) and abdomen long, slender but wide in the middle (e).

FIGURE 6

A Venn diagram representing co‐infestation of Menopon gallinae (M), Goniodes gigas (G) and Lipeurus caponis (L).