A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF AN OUTBREAK OF CONCOMITANT PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN BACKYARD POULTRY

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the presence of parasitic infection in a poultry flock during an outbreak. A total of 32 Kadaknath birds died out of 600 birds. The succumbed birds had a history of anorexia, loose feces, and sudden death. During the necropsy, the birds were examined externally and internally, which revealed creamish-white coloured multifocal necrotic foci on the liver parenchyma with diffusely congested hepatic tissue and a severe, diffuse condition of the lungs. The examination of the intestines of the affected birds showed severe and diffuse catarrhal enteritis resulting from roundworms present in the small intestine and the caecum of the birds, eventually causing button-shaped round lesions on the mucosal surface. The birds were found to be infected with Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis.

Keywords

• kadaknath fowl
• concomitant infestation
• ascaridia galli
• heterakis gallinarum
• histomonas meleagridis