Prevalence of Helminth Parasites in Indigenous Fowls of Zoba Anseba of Eritrea, North-East Africa

Abstract

The prevalence of helminth parasites in indigenous fowls was investigated in Zoba Anseba, Eritrea. The rate of infection was as high as 52.43% in rectal swab examination and 63.00% in the slaughtered fowls. The helminth parasites recorded were: Ascaridia galli (70.58%), Subulura sp. (5.88%), Heterakis sp. (52.94%), Tetrameres sp. (11.76%), Cheilospirura sp. (5.88%), Raillietina sp. (82.35%) and Amoebotaenia sp. (11.76%). The infection rate between nematodes and cestodes was 92.59% and 59.25%, respectively. Mixed infection with two to three species was common. Cloacal swabs of 82 fowls collected were found positive with different types of ova. Out of which 22 were positive for Ascaridia (51.16%), 14 for Heterakis sp. (32.55%), 6 for Tetrameres sp. (13.95%) and 30 were positive for Raillietina sp. (69.76%). [Vet. World 2011; 4(11.000): 492-494]

Keywords

• Indigenous Fowls
• Parasites
• Eritrea
• Nematode
• Cestode
• Slaughtered fowl