Prevalence of parasites in selected captive bird species

Blood and fecal samples of chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), albino pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were analyzed to check parasitic prevalence. To record parasites these five avian species were placed kept in separate cages at Avian Conservation and Research Center, Department of Wildlife an Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 100 fecal and 100 blood samples for each bird species were inspected to analyze internal parasites. During present study, 17 species of endoparasites 14 from fecal samples and three from blood were examined. Two species of ectoparasites i.e. mite Dermanyssus gallinae 42% and fowl ticks Args persicus 41%were studied. Blood parasites included Plasmodium juxtanucleare 50%, Leucoctoyzoon simond having parasitic prevalence 40%, and Aegyptinella pullorum having parasitic prevalence of 40%. Parasitic species recorded from fecal samples included 6 species of nematodes viz. Allodpa suctoria 2%. Syngamus trachea with parasitic prevalence of 60%, Capillaria annulata 37.5%, Ascardia galli 24%, Capillaria anatis 40% and Heterakis gallinarum 28.3%. Similarly, two species of trematodes viz. Prosthogonimus ovatus having parasitic prevalence of 50% and Prosthogonimus macrorchis 21% were also documented from fecal avian samples . Single cestode species Raillietina echinobothrida having parasitic prevalence of 72% and 3 protozoan species i.e. Eimeria maxima having parasitic prevalence of 21%, Giardia lamblia 41% and Histomonas meleagridis 18% were documented during corpological analysis. In our recommendation, proper sanitation, medication and vaccination of bird’s enclousres are suggested to avoid parasites.

↵​A Copro-parasitological Surveillance on Diverse Captive Wild Avian Species

Background: Infections with gastrointestinal parasites are widespread and a major health issue for captive birds. Despite the significance being well known, not much studies have been conducted on its prevalence especially in captive avians in a zoo setup. The present study aims at determining the prevalence of parasites in captive birds of different orders maintained at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Methods: In this investigation, a survey through fecal sample examination was conducted to assess the parasitic infection in captive birds belonging to 6 different biological orders e.g. Casuariiformes, Anseriformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes, Psittaciformes {Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Duck (Anas platyrhynchos), Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), grey pelican, (Pelecanus philippensis), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), macaw (Ara ararauna), parakeet (Psittacula eupatsia)} and Ciconiiformes maintained at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka. A total of 106 fecal samples from apparently healthy birds including 7 samples from emu, 3 ducks, 12 peafowls, 8 red jungle fowls, 24 grey pelicans, 1 purple heron, 13 silver pheasants, 8 macaws, 26 parakeets and 4 Indian open-billed storks were collected during 2015-2016 and were screened for parasitic eggs/oocysts. Result: The screening result could detect ova of 2 (28.57%) Eimeria oocyst in emu, 3 (100%) Eimeria oocyst in duck, 7 (58.33%) Capillaria sp., 3 (25%) Eimeria oocyst, 2 (16.66%) Ascardia galli, 2 (16.66%) Raillietina echinobothrida, 1 (8.33%) Tetrameres sp. in peafowls, 3 (37.5%) Ascardia galli, 1 (12.5%) Eimeria oocyst in red jungle fowls, 5 (20.83%) Ascardia galli in grey pelican, 1 (100%) trematode ova in purple heron, 3 (23.07%) Raillietina sp., 2 (15.38%) Eimeria ocyst in silver pheasant, 2 (25%) Ascaris sp. in macaw, 12 (46.15%) Ascaris sp., 3 (11.53%) Eimeria oocyst in parakeet and 4 (100%) Tetrameres sp. in Indian open-billed storks.

Prevalence and Intensity of Parasitic Worms on Free-Range Chickens and Egg-Laying Chickens in Muara Badak sub-District, Kutai Kartanegara

One of the diseases often threatens the health of free-range chickens and egg-laying chickens are worm parasites (endoparasites). Parasites can be transmitted through food, drinks and the cage environment. Sanitation is one of the preventive steps carry out by farmers to protect livestock against infection from the environment. The objective of study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of parasitic worm eggs that infect the digestive tracts of free-range chickens and egg- laying hens in Muara Badak District. Research was done by observing worm eggs in fecal samples. A total of 60 samples consisting of 30 samples of egg-laying hens in Tanjung Village and 30 samples of free-range chickens in Badak Baru Village, Muara Badak. For the sample analysis technique used 2 methods are namely the floating method and the sedimentation method. The results has showed the type of worm eggs are infected the digestive tract found in free-range chickens and egg-laying chickens had consisted of Echinostoma revolutum, Raillietina echinobothrida, Raillietina tetragona, Davainea proglotina, Amoebotaenia sphenoides, Ascaridia galli, Capillaria annulata and Trichostrongylus tenuis. The highest prevalence in free- range chickens and egg-laying chickens were found in Ascaridia galli was 53.33% and 40%. While the lowest prevalence in free-range chickens against Raillietina echinobothrida and Amoebotaenia sphenoides 3.33%. egg-laying chickens are against Echinostoma revolutum, Raillietina tetragona and Trichostrongylus tenuis 6.67%. The highest intensity in free-range chickens and against Ascaridia galli was 141 eggs/individual and in egg-laying chickens was 139 eggs/individuals. The lowest intensity in this research was found in free-range chickens against Amoebotaenia sphenoides and Raillietina echinobothrida 3 eggs/individuals and egg-laying chickens against Echinostoma revolutum 5 eggs/individuals. Keywords: Endoparasites, Prevalence, Intensity, Chicken, hen.

Anthelmintic activity of praziquantel and Spilanthes acmella extract on an intestinal cestode parasite

Spilanthes acmella Murr., popularised as toothache plant, is a well-known culinary and medicinal plant for different purposes, but its use as an anthelmintic is apparently exclusive to the Mizo people of India and Myanmar. A chloroform extract of Spilanthes acmella Murr. was analysed in a single quadrupole GC-MS system, from which it was found that the major compound was an alkylamide, N-isobutyl-(2E,4Z,8Z,10E)-dodecatetraenamide. A comparative study was performed on the anthelmintic activity of the plant extract and praziquantel (PZQ) against an intestinal cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida. In terms of efficacy, PZQ was more potent, but the plant extract was also effective at all concentrations tested. PZQ caused severe shrinkage and folds of the tegument, constriction of the suckers, dislocation of spines and erosion of microtriches. The plant extract caused shrinkage and folds on the main body but not on the scolex. Damage on the suckers is more pronounced than in PZQ-treated cestodes. The spines were completely removed. The current findings indicate that S. acmella is a good source of compounds with anthelmintic activity.

The influence of hydro-meteorological conditions on the spread of chicken cestodiasis

Today one of the important problems in poultry farming and bird keeping both in homesteads and on farms is the spread of endoparasites, which cause a significant decrease in productivity and significant economic damage. Raillietinosis and daveniosis are natural focal tape helminthiases that parasitize in the small intestine of poultry. The research on chicken cestodiasis was carried out on poultry farms in the south of Odessa Region of Ukraine during 2017 and 2019. 4219 chickens of different age groups were examined, which used walking areas, with 1965 chickens – in 2017 and 2254 – in 2019. To assess the wet and dry periods with daily average temperatures above 10 °C, that is the period of active vegetation, the Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient (SHC) was used (1937), according to which the spread of chicken cestodiasis was determined. In the south of Odessa Region, the moderate and severe period increased from four to seven months, at which the hydrothermal coefficient amounted to 0.4–0.8. The period of sufficient moisture at a hydrothermal coefficient of 1.0–1.5 decreased from three months of 2017 to two months of 2019 and the hydrothermal coefficient was not calculated for five and three months, respectively. In 2017, the hatching of cestode eggs with bird manure was recorded for nine months: from March (10.1%) to November (5.8%) with high rates in June (27.2%) and September (37.1%), while in 2019, cestode eggs were recorded in February (12.7%) and up to December (2.4%), that is, for 11 months, with the highest rates in May (41.8%) and September (43.9%). The species composition of chicken cestodes is represented by four species: Raillietina echinobothrida (74.2%), which dominates due to a longer low hydrothermal coefficient, as well as R. tetragona (9.8%), R. cesticillus (10.8%) and Davainea proglottina (5.2%). The invasion of ants with cysticercoid R. echinobothrida in 2017 amounted to 19.6%, and in 2019 – 25.9% with an intensity of 1 to 4 specimens.