Comparative Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Free Ranged and Caged Chickens in Lokoja, Kogi State

Abstract

Poultry Production plays an important role in the provision of animal protein to the timingNigeria population and other domestic Animals. It is also vital to the nation’s economyasasource of income to poultry farmers and revenue to the entire nation. Rearing of chickenonalarge scale is greatly affected by parasitic diseases and their effects cause difficulties inpoultrymanagement, which may affect the productivity rate, growth rate, sometime may evenleadtototal extermination of the entire poultry. Helminths are important parasites of poultryproduction that may lead low productivity. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and intensity of infection of helminths in free ranged and caged chicken slaughtered in the study area. A total of 150 faecal samples were collected fromthe intestinal
tract of slaughtered chickens in the study area were examined using sedmentation and floatation methods for the presence of adult worm, segments, ova or eggs of gastro intestinal parasites. Samples of chickens examined in the study area were found to be positive  with two species from class nematoda (Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum). The gastrointestinal cestodes identified were Choanotaenia  infundibulum, Raillietina  echino both rida and Capillaria species, while the pparasites of chicken in the study area, with  49(65 .33%) of thelocal chicken and  19(25.33%) of the caged system chicken examined found to be infected with it. Ascaridia galli proved  to be the second most prevalent  species, with an infection rate of 31(41.33%) and 14(18.67%) for free range and caged chickens. All the 75  local chickens examined, were  found to be infected with one or more gastrointestinal parasites 75(100%). The high gastrointestinal  parasites observed in the study area  have a strong relationship with their mode of feeding and the birds' living conditions. This high  prevalence may be responsiblefor reduced  body weight, reduction in egg production and deaths of some or complete extermination of  the whole poultry.