Parasites in the life of pets

During the period 2007-2008, we examined 105 chickens. The chickens were divided into two groups: the first group grazed near a pond, and the second group grazed in the meadow. The first group of chickens had the nematode Ecoleus annulata 60%. The second place in distribution was occupied by Capillaria columbae, also from the nematode class, 30.1%, respectively. Stretocara crassicauda ranked third in occurrence at 8.9%. Cestodes were represented by three species Hymenolepis setigera 13.3% of chickens and Davainea proglottina 26.7%, Raiellietina tetragona 26.7%, and trematodes in Trachephillus sisvoi, and 33.3% Prosthogonimus ovatus.

According to the biological cycle of these helminths, we see that the birds of the first group were affected by both the geohelminths Eucoleus annulata and the biohelminths Capillaria columbae. Streptocara crassicauda, Raiellietina tetragona, Hymenolepis setigera, Davainea proglottina, Trachephillus sisvoi, Prosthogonimus ovatus. As you can see, the first group mainly identified biohelminths. First of all, this is due to the conditions of their detention and the adjacent biotope of the river and meadow. This contributes to the dispersion of the invasive nature of the diseased bird, its preservation in intermediate hosts and, under favorable conditions, in the external environment.

Eggs of helminths of the class of nematodes and cestodes were detected in the birds of the second group. Trematodes were not identified in this group. From the class of nematodes, a larger number of birds were infected with Ascaridia galli (55%), in addition to this nematode, we isolated eggs of Capillaria caudinflata from 48.3% of chickens, Syngamus thrachea from 23.3% of chickens, and Eucoleus annulata from 11.7%. Cestodes were represented by only one species: Raillietina tetragona (13.3%). Helminths identified in the second group belong to geohelminths - Ascaridia galli, Syngamus thrachea, Trichostrongylus tenus and biohelminths - Syngamus thrachea, Eucoleus annulata.

Ascaridia galli are dioecious parasites, light yellow in color. 7-12 cm, males 3-10 cm. Localization - small intestine, sometimes cecum.

The development of the parasite occurs without the participation of intermediate hosts. With the poultry's feces, roundworm eggs enter the external environment, where they mature within one to two weeks. Chickens become infected by swallowing infective eggs, from which larvae hatch in the intestines and then penetrate into the thickness of the intestinal mucosa. Having passed the tissue phase of development, the larvae return to the intestinal lumen and reach sexual maturity on days 28-58 after infection.

Ascarids injure the intestinal mucosa, and as a result, inflammation, hyperemia and hemorrhage develop. Particularly strong pathomorphological changes, as noted by Tsvetaeva (1954), develop during the tissue phase of development of roundworm larvae. Infected birds lose their appetite, thirst appears, diarrhea develops, anemia increases, and if the infection is severe, the bird dies. In laying hens suffering from ascariasis, egg production decreases.

The diagnosis of the disease is established by the detection of roundworm eggs in feces examined by the floating method, or by finding the nematodes themselves during a morning examination of feces excreted by the bird overnight. Posthumously - using the method of helminthological autopsies. You should pay attention to the condition of the cecum, where they can accumulate in significant quantities.

In dead chickens, in the first days after infection, roundworm larvae can be found deep in the intestinal mucosa.

Prophylaxis Prevention can be carried out with phenothiazine at the rate of 0.1-0.3 g per 1 kg of live weight of chickens by free group feeding with wet mash. The drug is given daily for 25-35 days in a row to chickens, starting from one month of age. Then a two-month break is given, and the course is repeated again.

The walking yards and premises are cleaned of droppings every day. The area adjacent to the poultry houses is plowed in spring and autumn. It is recommended to periodically change walking areas and sow cultivated grasses.

Adequate feeding, good care and maintenance increase the bird’s resistance to heterokidosis and ascariasis.

Discussion of the results

The types of helminths we have identified and the biology of their development indicate that floor keeping of chickens contributes to the spread of helminth infections in birds. However, free range of birds determines a greater variety of helminths in these animals. In addition, walking near a reservoir, where a gently silty, sometimes rocky, shore with the presence of crustaceans at its edge led to the infection of chickens of the first group with such types of helminths as Trachephillus sisvoi, which are characteristic mainly of waterfowl, Streptocara crassicauda, Hymenolepis setigera, intermediate hosts which are amphipods.

Poultry grazing in a meadow, where a large number of intermediate hosts, mollusks, led to the spread of helminth infections such as prostagoniasis, daveniasis, syngamosis, rayillitinosis capillariasis.

In the second group, biohelminths were also found, but their distribution was associated mainly with earthworms, which are either intermediate or facultative hosts, or with ants, the intermediate hosts of rayellitines.

Our research shows the need to create separate walking areas for poultry. With such maintenance and timely implementation of preventive measures, the infection of chickens will be limited, and therefore productivity and egg production will increase.

We identified prostagonyms in the chickens of the first group. As we know, these helminths affect the genital organs of chickens, reduce egg production, and lead to the death of the bird. The owners of these birds said that they had observed “casting eggs” more than once. At first, this clinic was observed in birds of one owner, but later the invasion began to spread to other private farms. This is due to the presence of a reservoir not far from the dwelling and the presence of intermediate hosts of mollusks and larvae and adult dragonflies.

Literature data indicate that Ascaridia and Heterakis are more common in birds, but in our case, eggs of Eucoleus annulata and Trichostrongylus tenus were most often found (60% and 70%, respectively), and Ascaris eggs were found in 55% of chickens of the second group, with lack of detection in the first group. We think this is due to the lack of invasiveness in the area where birds of the first group are kept. Since chicken ascariasis is a geohelminth, only the presence of a microfocus will make it possible for a microfocus of this helminthiasis to develop.

Based on the above, we believe that in private farms it is necessary to establish a routine examination of birds and carry out timely therapeutic measures to restore the physiological norm of animals. It is also important to carry out preventive measures to disinfect areas adjacent to private households from infectious diseases. In addition, it is necessary to keep the birds in special walking yards.