Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthes with Respect to Age, Sex and Breeds of Chicken Slaughtered at Eke Awka Market, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aim: This research was designed to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminthes with respect to age, sex and breeds of chicken slaughtered at Eke-Awka Market, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Fecal specimen was obtained from 150 Chicken slaughtered at Eke-Awka, Market, Anambra State, Nigeria from August to October 2019. The Fecal specimen was processed following floatation and the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration techniques. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to get the percentage prevalence and chi-square to determine the association of prevalence in relation to age, sex and breeds of the chickens; level of significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: Out of the 150 fecal specimens examined, 63 were found to be infected with intestinal helminthes parasites, giving a prevalence of 42%. The parasites found were Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Raillietina cesticillus. Raillietina cesticillus was observed to have the highest prevalence which is 16.7%. With respect to gender, a total of 38 males were found to be infected by helminthes parasites and the prevalence among males was 25.3%. Raillietina cesticillus infected the highest number of male chickens 17 (44.7%). A total of 25 female chickens were infected, with a prevalence of 16.7%, Ascaridia galli infected the highest number of female chickens 11 (44%). With respect to age groups, a total of 24 chickens aged (0 – 5) months were infected with a prevalence of 16%. Raillietina cesticillus had the highest infection rate 12 (50%). In the age group (6 – 10) months, a total of 21 chickens were infected giving a prevalence rate of 14%. Ascaridia galli recorded the highest infection rate 9 (49.9%). Among age group 11 months and above, the total number of infected chickens was 18, giving a prevalence rate of 12%. Heterakis gallinarum recorded the highest infection rate 8 (44.4%). With respect to breeds, a total of 28 old layer chickens were found to be infected by helminthes parasites and its prevalence was 18.7%, Raillietina cesticillus had the highest infection rate 13 (46.4%). The broiler had a total infection rate of 22 which gave a prevalence of 14.7%. Raillietina cesticillus had the highest infection rate of 9 (40.9%). Among the Native chickens, the total number of infections was 13 and its prevalence rate was 8.7%. Ascaridia galli recorded the highest infection rate which was 8 (61.5%).

Conclusions: The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthes was 42%, the helminthes parasites found were Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Raillietina cesticillus. Raillietina cesticillus was observed to have the highest prevalence 16.7%. Government and poultry owners should ensure that good caging and management systems are adopted to prevent the spread of intestinal helminthes among chickens so as to ensure maximum output from poultry production.