Assessment Of Gastro-Intestinal Helminths Among Free-Range Chicken (Gallus Gallus Domesticus) In Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes among free-range chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Ogba / Egbema / Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State Nigeria, was studied. Twenty-eight birds selected from 4 communities (Erema, Akabta, Obuburu and Akabuka) were euthanized for the study. The formol ether sedimentation and the Zinc sulphate floatation methods were employed. Of the total birds examined, 25(89.3%) tested positive for 6 genera of gastrointestinal parasites (3 nematodes and 3 cestodes). Nematodes were Ascaridia galli 7(28.00%), Heterakis gallinarum 6(24.00%) and Syngamus trachea 1(4.00%) while Cestodes were Raillientina tetragona 4(16.00%), Raillientina cesticillus 2(8.00%) and Choanotaenia infundibulum 2(8.00%).Mixed infection accounted for 3(12.00%). The infection rates according to the sexes sampled were males 94.4% (17/18) while females had 80% (8/10) indicating that the males were more parasitized than the females. Chi square statistics shows that the relationship with respect to sex was statistically non-significant with p=0.236. Parasites were seen in the following preferred sites: Large intestine – Ascaridia galli 6(40.0%), Heterakis gallinarum 2 (13.33%), Syngamus trachea 1(6.67%), Raillientina tetragona 2(13.33%), Raillientina cesticillus 1(6.67%) and Choanotaenia infundibulum 1(6.67%). Small intestine – Ascaridia galli 1(12.50%), Heterakis gallinarum 2(25.00%), Raillientina tetragona 2(25.00%), Raillientina cesticillus 1(12.50%) and Choanotaenia infundibulum 1(12.50%), Caecum –Heterakis gallinarum 2 (100%). The site prevalent distribution was statistically non-significant (p>0.05). Birds from the communities sampled showed the following prevalence rates: Erema - 80% (8/10), Oboburu - 85.7% (6/7), Akabuka – 100% (7/7) and Akabta – 100% (4/4). The community related prevalence is statistically non-significant (p=0.510). This study has revealed the parasite infection status of free-range chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in the study area.