Geohelminth infections in egg laying domestic fowls and associated financial losses in poultry production

Abstract

Domestic fowls especially egg layers (of the genus Gallus gallus domesticus: Galliformis) in different poultry farms in Rivers State of Nigeria were observed to either die in their numbers or perform poorly. On post mortem examinations of 500 birds carcasses which were routinely carried out over a period of 6 months, it was observed tha tmany of them had parasitic helminthes in their gastro intestinal tracts.These were majorly responsible for much of the mortality and low productivity in the birds.Two hundred and seven(207 ie 41.4%) of them were found with helminthes in their gastro-intestinal tracts. These included several species of stomach and intestinal worms such as Ascariidia galli(50.2%),Taeniasp.(40.6%), Heterakis gallinaerium(4.3%),Capillaria retunsa(2.9%)and Tetramere americana(1.9%).Two of the helminthic species-Taenia sp. and Ascariidia sp. were found to cause more severe damage to the layers especially in terms of mortality and loss of eggs. The economic implications(costs of prophylaxis and other therapeutic measures for prevention and/or removal of the helminthes in these poultry farms) of this level of infestation and their adverse effects on profitable commercial poultry-production was analyzed.  The financial losses associated with the loss of the birds and their products were considered. This was observed and reported to be in millions of naira.

Keywords: Domestic fowl, Egg layers, Financial loss, helminthosis.