Gastrointestinal Parasites of Domestic Chicken <em>Gallus-gallus domesticus</em> Linnaeus 1758 in Samaru, Zaria Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of gastrointestinal parasites of the domestic chicken (Gallus-gallus domesticus) Linnaeus was undertaken to determine the prevalence of infection. A total of 92 birds obtained from different locations in Samaru, Zaria were examined using the intestinal scrapping and floatation methods. The result showed that 57(61.9%) of the chickens harboured helminth and protozoan parasites. The abundant parasites encountered were Ascaridia galli Schrank 1788 (66.7%), Heterakis gallinarum Schrank 1788 (51.7%), Eimeria tenella Railliet & Lucet 1891; Fantham 1909 (43.3%), Hymenolepis carioca de Magalhaes 1898 (38.3%), Raillietina tetragona Molin 1858 (36.7%), Raillietina echinobothrida Megnin 1880 (20%), Eimeria brunette Levine 1942 (16.6%) and Hartertia gallinarum Theiler 1919 (1.7%). The small and large intestines and caecum were the preferred sites of infection by the parasites. There was no significant association (p>0.05) between the size of the chicken and worm burden. The role of gastrointestinal parasites in the depletion of nutrients and vitamins and reduction of productivity in birds was highlighted