Author/Authors :
Z، Tesfaheywet نويسنده Department of Parasitology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, P. O. Box. 301, Haramaya, Ethiopia , , E، Amare نويسنده College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, P. O. Box. 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia , , Z، Hailu نويسنده College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, P. O. Box. 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia ,
Abstract :
A cross-sectional study was carried out in three selected small scale commercial poultry farms in and around Haramaya woreda, Southeastern Ethiopia, from November 2011 to April 2012 with the aim of determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of helminthosis. For this purpose 384 chickens were randomly selected from different age groups of both sexes, kept under various management systems. Simple salt floatation technique was employed for coprological examination in the study. The fecal sample examined revealed an overall prevalence of 159 (41.4%), harboring one or more genera of helminth parasites. Among the helminth parasites recovered 73 (19.01%) and 6 (1.56%) were nematodes and cestodes respectively. While, the rest 80 (20.8%) were mixed infestations. The major helminth parasites recovered in the farms include Ascaridia galli (38%), Heterakis gallinarum (3.9%) and Raillietina sp. (22.4%). There was statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of helminth parasites in different management systems, with more parasite eggs recovered in in deep litter system 157 (45%) than their relative variables. In this study helminthosis was independent of sex and age (P > 0.05). The study indicated that helminth parasites are highly prevalent in small scale poultry farms in the study area. Therefore, sustainable ways of controlling these parasites and further studies on period prevalence of helminth parasites in chickens need to be designed for improved intensive egg and poultry meat production.
