Helminthic Parasites of Scavenging Chickens (Gallus domesticus) from Villages in Penang Island, Malaysia

Sixty scavenging chickens from villages in Penang were examined for their state of nutrition or body condition and the presence of helminthic parasites. The majority of the chickens were of poor body condition. More than 66.7% (females) and 73.3% (males) belonged to the ‘below normal’ category of general body condition. A total of eight different helminth species were recovered from the trachea and the gastrointestinal tract of the various chickens. Four of the species were nematodes and the rest were cestodes. No trematodes were recovered from the chickens. The highest mean worm burden was recorded for the cestode Raillietina echinobothrida while the lowest was the nematode, Ascaridia galli.