Ecto and Gastrointestinal Parasites of Gallus gallus domesticus in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v46i1.1Keywords:
Chicken, Poultry, Ectoparasite, Gastrointestinal parasite, NigeriaAbstract
The poultry industry plays a key role in the economic development of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. It is regarded as the fastest way to solve the problem of protein deficiency in the region; however, parasitic diseases threaten the economy and health of chickens. In this study, we examined chickens' gastrointestinal tract and ectoparasite to increase awareness of poultry parasites disrupting the parasite lifecycle. Four hundred and fifty-nine intestinal tracts were collected at the slaughter point for gastrointestinal parasite screening using formal-ether concentration techniques and saturated sodium chloride floatation techniques, and 300 chickens were assessed for ectoparasite collection. A skin scraping was performed on each chicken using a sterilised scalpel blade, and feathers were plucked from areas such as the vent, neck, and under the wings, where ectoparasites were predilected. Findings in the study showed that the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites; cestode, nematode, and protozoan, was 76 %, and a prevalence of 57 % for ectoparasites; mites, lice, ticks, and fleas, encountered in the study. The high prevalence of parasites in the chicken population highlights the multifaceted potential of the spread of parasites in the environment and the challenges of the proximity of chickens to humans and underscores the urgent need to implement strategic interventions for sustainable poultry health.
References
Ajala, A. O., Ogunjimi, S. I., Famuwagun, O. S. & Adebimpe, A. (2021). Poultry production in Nigeria: exploiting its potentials for rural youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 48, 114-123. DOI:10.51791/njap.v48i1.2890
Heise, H., Crisan, A. C. & Theuvsen, L. (2015). The Poultry Market in Nigeria: Market Structures and Potential for Investment in the Market. The International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 18, 197-222. DOI:10.22004/AG.ECON.207011
Wang, Y., Jiang, Z., Jin, Z., Tan, H. & Xu, B. (2013). Risk Factors for Infectious Diseases in Backyard Poultry Farms in the Poyang Lake Area, China. PLoS One, 8(6): e67366. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067366
Luu, L., Bettridge, J., Christley, R. M., Melese, K., Blake, D., Dessie, T., Wigley, P., Desta, T. T., Hanotte, O., Kaiser, P., Terfa, Z. G., Collins, M. & Lynch, S. E. (2013). Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Eimeria species in Ethiopian village chickens. BMC Veterinary Research, 9: 208. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-208
Lee, H. J., Jeong, J. Y., Jeong, O. M., Youn, S. Y., Kim, J. H., Kim, D. W., Yoon, J. U., Kwon, Y. K. & Kang, M. S. (2020). Impact of Dermanyssus gallinae infestation on persistent outbreaks of fowl typhoid in commercial layer chicken farms. Poultry Science, 99(12), 6533–6541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.09.035
Riwidiharso, E., Darsono, D., Setyowati, E.A., Pratiknyo, H., Sudiana, E., Santoso, S., Yani, E., & Widhiono, I. (2020). Prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites in scavenging chickens (Gallus domesticus) and their association to body weight. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity. DOI:10.13057/biodiv/d210738
Wirtanen, G. & Salo, S. (2003). Disinfection in Food Processing – Efficacy Testing of Disinfectants. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 2(2):293-306. DOI: 10.1023/B:RESB.0000040471.15700.03
Sparagano, O., George, D., Harrington, D. & Giangaspero, A. (2014). Significance and Control of the Poultry Red Mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. Annual review of entomology, 59(1): 447-66. Doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162101.
Permin, A. & Hansen, J. W. (1998). Epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of poultry parasites. FAO Animal Health Manual, No.4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 169pp https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/9ca5db31-0ddf-4e5f-81cf-082a1f0a72fc/content
Natala, A. J., George, B. D. J. & Agbede, R. (2007). Seasonal patterns of ectoparasitism of poultry in Zaria, Nigeria: A retrospective study. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, 24(1). Doi:10.4314/njpar.v24i1.37820.
Binbol, N. L., Labiru, M. A., Maton, S. M., Sadiku, Y. & Yaroson, A. Y. (2020). A temporal analysis of rainfall characteristics on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Journal of Meteorology and Climate Science, 18(1): 7-13.
Junaidu, H. I., Luka, S. A. & Mijinyawa, A. (2014). Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminthes Parasites of the Domestic Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) slaughtered in Giwa Market, Giwa Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 4(19): 120-125. ISSN 2225-0921. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Prevalence-of-Gastrointestinal-Helminth-Parasites-JunaiduLuka/84464ce3845ad96ceb85d646bce887f43eef44e3
Soulsby, E. J. L. (1982). Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domestic Animals. (7th edition): London: Baillière Tindall, 809 pp., illus. ISBN 0-7020-0820-6.
Jegede, O. C., Asadu, I. A., Opara, M., Obeta, S. S. & Olayemi, D. O. (2015). Gastrointestinal parasitism in local and exotic breeds of chickens reared in Gwagwalada Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria, 13(3): 25-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sokjvs.v13i3.5
Fatihu, M.Y., Ogbogu, V.C. Njoku, C.O. & Saror, D. I. (1991). Comparative studies of gastrointestinal helminths of poultry in Zaria, Revue d’leverage et de Medecine Veterinaire des pays Tropicaux. 44(2): 175-177. PMID: 1818365.
Oyeka, C.A. (1989). Prevalence of intestinal helminths in poultry farms of Anambra State, Nigeria. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 37:217-220. https://eurekamag.com/research/002/193/002193263.php
Ola-Fadunsin, S. D., Uwabujo, P. I., Sanda, I. M., Ganiyu, I. A., Hussain, K., Rabiu, M., Elelu, N., & Alayande, M. O. (2019). Gastrointestinal helminths of intensively managed poultry in Kwara Central, Kwara State, Nigeria: Its diversity, prevalence, intensity, and risk factors. Veterinary World, 12(3), 389–396. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2019.389-396
Ogbaje, C. I., Agbo, E. O., & Ajanusi, O. J. (2012). Prevalence of Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and tapeworm infections in birds slaughtered in Makurdi township. International Journal of Poultry Science. https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2012.103.107
Puttalakshmamma, G.C., Ananda, K.J., Prathiush, P.R., Mamatha, G.S., & Suguna, R. (2008). Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Poultry in and around Banglore; India. Veterinary World: 1; 7, 201-202.
Ashenafi, H., & Eshetu, Y. (2004). Study on Gastrointestinal Helminths of Local Chickens in Central Ethiopia. Revue De Medecine Veterinaire, 155, 504-507. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Study-on-Gastrointestinal-Helminthsof-Local-in-Ashenafi Eshetu/2078006d7c1a6a8dc540ae080eba57adabca8093
Mata, W., Galgalo, W. & Jilo, K. (2018). Prevalence of the major ectoparasites of poultry in extensive and intensive farms in Jimma, Southwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology. Doi:10. 10.5897/JPVB2017.0298.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nigerian Journal of Parasitology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
