Common gastrointestinal parasites of local chicken (gallus domesticus) slaughtered in some selected eatery centres in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State: Implication for meat quality

Abstract

A study on the gastrointestinal helminthes of local chickens slaughtered in some selected popular eating centres in Abakaliki Ebonyi State was conducted. A total of 150 faecal samples from the intestinal tract, lumen and gizzard of already slaughtered chicken were examined using direct smear and sodium chloride floatation methods for the presence of adult worms, segments, ova or eggs of gastrointestinal parasites. Samples of chicken examined were positive with different classes of helminthes parasites namely: nematodes, cestodes and trematodes. The nematode species implicated were, Ascaridia galli (48.7%) Heterakis gallinarum (28%). The gastrointestinal cestodes discovered were Choanotaenia infundibulum (36.7%) and Raillietina echinobothrida (20.1%), while the gastrointestinal trematodes isolated is Prosthogonimus species. In all the faecal samples examined for sexes, 73 (48.7%) males and 77 (51.3%) females were infected with gastrointestinal helminthes. Mixed infections was 127 (86.6%), while 23 (15.3%) had single infection. The high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes as observed in this area has a strong relationship with their mode of feeding and living conditions which will lead to reduced body weight, decreased egg production and deaths thus affecting the meat quality and nutrient content of the chicken.