Short Communication

Helminth parasites in the intestinal tract of indigenous poultry in parts of Kenya : short communication

L.W. Irungu, R.N. Kimani, S.M. Kisia
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 75, No 1 | a452 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v75i1.452 | © 2004 L.W. Irungu, R.N. Kimani, S.M. Kisia | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 June 2004 | Published: 18 June 2004

About the author(s)

L.W. Irungu,
R.N. Kimani,
S.M. Kisia,

Full Text:

PDF (122KB)

Abstract

A study was carried out on 456 indigenous poultry intestinal specimens from various towns in Kenya to determine the occurrence and distribution of helminth parasites in the intestinal tract of the birds. Of the specimens examined, 414 had parasites whereas the remaining 42 had none, which is an infection rate of 90.78 %. The main species of helminths found in the intestines were Raillietina sp. (47.53 %), Heterakis gallinarum (21.33 %), Ascaridia galli (10.03 %), Strongyloides avium (9.96 %), Choanotaenia infundibulum (4.61 %), Cotugnia digonopora (3.6 %), Capillaria sp. (1.5 %), Trichostrongylus tenius (1.04 %) and Syngamus trachea (0.40 %). Most helminths were present in both the mid- and hindguts. Syngamus trachea and C. digonopora were only found in the foregut and midgut, respectively. Although chickens from which the specimens were collected appeard healthy, the high prevalence of helminthiasis observed shows the poor level of helminth infection control practiced by the indigenous poultry keepers in the country, which might affect the health status of the birds and their growth rates. Poultry keepers should be encouraged to prevent, control and treat such cases.

Keywords

Helminths; Indigenous Poultry; Kenya

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4149
Total article views: 6088

 

Crossref Citations

1. Haemato-biochemical changes and prevalence of parasitic infections of indigenous chicken sold in markets of Kiambu County, Kenya
Peninah Wamboi, Robert M. Waruiru, Paul G. Mbuthia, James M. Nguhiu, Lilly C. Bebora
International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine  vol: 8  issue: 1  first page: 18  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1080/23144599.2019.1708577

2. Chicken Ascariasis and Heterakiasis: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors, in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia
Abrham Ayele Tsegaye, Abeba Adino Miretie
Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports  vol: Volume 12  first page: 217  year: 2021  
doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S323284

3. Differential species traits of Trichostrongylus tenuis (Nematoda, Trichostrongylidae)
V. O. Yevstafieva, Y. S. Starodub, V. M. Pisarenko, O. V. Barabolia, O. V. Nikiforova
Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems  vol: 11  issue: 3  year: 2020  
doi: 10.15421/022069

4. Studies on Pathological Changes in the Gastrointestinal Tract Due to Helminth Infection in Backyard Chickens
Sahar Bhutto, Sadaf Khushk, Mansoor Tariq, Javaid Ali Gadahi, Sana Noor Panhwer, Zaheer Ahmed Nizamani, Shaharbano Memon, Satabdi Datta Choudhury
Journal of Parasitology Research  vol: 2026  issue: 1  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1155/japr/6446780

5. Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence status of gastrointestinal parasites in poultry from India
P. Krishnamoorthy, T.R. Sangeetha, S.J. Siju, K.P. Suresh
Journal of Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 36  issue: 2  first page: 82  year: 2022  
doi: 10.5958/0974-0813.2022.00013.4

6. Prevalence of the gastro-intestinal parasites of domestic chicken Gallus domesticus Linnaeus, 1758 in Tunisia according to the agro-ecological zones
Badreddine Ben Slimane
Journal of Parasitic Diseases  vol: 40  issue: 3  first page: 774  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0577-5

7. A description of village chicken production systems and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites: Case studies in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa
Dikeledi P. Malatji, Anna M. Tsotetsi, Este Van Marle-Koster, Farai C. Muchadeyi
Onderstepoort J Vet Res  vol: 83  issue: 1  year: 2016  
doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.968

8. Cestode Parasites of Free-Range Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in the North-Eastern of Algeria
Medjouel Ilyes , Benakhla Ahmed
International Journal of Poultry Science  vol: 12  issue: 11  first page: 681  year: 2013  
doi: 10.3923/ijps.2013.681.684

9. The description of Mediorhynchus africanus n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) from galliform birds in Africa
Omar M. Amin, Paul Evans, Richard A. Heckmann, Atif M. El-Naggar
Parasitology Research  vol: 112  issue: 8  first page: 2897  year: 2013  
doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3461-9

10. The Finding of Mediorhynchus gallinarum (Acanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) in Chickens from Indonesia, with Expanded Description Using SEM
Omar M. Amin, Richard A. Heckmann, Ana Sahara, Setyo Yudhanto
Comparative Parasitology  vol: 80  issue: 1  first page: 39  year: 2013  
doi: 10.1654/4562.1

11. Genetic resistance to natural helminth infections in two chicken layer lines
Falko Kaufmann, Gürbüz Daş, Rudolf Preisinger, Matthias Schmutz, Sven König, Matthias Gauly
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 176  issue: 2-3  first page: 250  year: 2011  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.11.007

12. Parasites Status of Village Chickens (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) in Selected Communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Kingsley Elele, Ebenezer Amawulu, Kurokeyi Prosper Eniyekedidei
Open Journal of Applied Sciences  vol: 11  issue: 02  first page: 230  year: 2021  
doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2021.112016

13. Prevalence of parasites of the local scavenging chickens in a selected semi-arid zone of Eastern Kenya
E. O. Mungube, S. M. Bauni, B.-A. Tenhagen, L. W. Wamae, S. M. Nzioka, L. Muhammed, J. M. Nginyi
Tropical Animal Health and Production  vol: 40  issue: 2  first page: 101  year: 2008  
doi: 10.1007/s11250-007-9068-3

14. Prevalence of parasites and associated risk factors in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) and free-range backyard chickens of Sistan region, east of Iran
Mohammad Hossein Radfar, Javad Khedri, Keivan Adinehbeigi, Reza Nabavi, Khatereh Rahmani
Journal of Parasitic Diseases  vol: 36  issue: 2  first page: 220  year: 2012  
doi: 10.1007/s12639-012-0112-5

15. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infections in country chicken from Visakhapatnam district Andhra Pradesh India
Anisha Mathews, Janakiram Pasupuleti, Ummey Shameem
Journal of Parasitic Diseases  vol: 48  issue: 1  first page: 95  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1007/s12639-023-01644-0

16. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Ascaridia galli in chickens from Minoufiya Governorate, Egypt
Mahmoud AbouLaila, Maram Mahmoud, Heba Wheeb, Makoto Igarashi, Ahmed Elkhtam, Soad Menshawy
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports  vol: 57  first page: 101170  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101170

17. A Cross-Sectional Survey on Parasites of Chickens in Selected Villages in the Subhumid Zones of South-Eastern Nigeria
P. A. Nnadi, S. O. George
Journal of Parasitology Research  vol: 2010  first page: 1  year: 2010  
doi: 10.1155/2010/141824

18. Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of free-ranging chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
I. Walter, M. P. Malatji, I. Nyagura, D. Tembe, S. Mukaratirwa
Journal of Helminthology  vol: 100  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1017/S0022149X26101400

19. Prevalence of Gastro-Intestinal Parasites in Chickens Sold in Some Major Markets in Greater Accra, Ghana
P.F. Ayeh-Kumi, Larbie Nii-dodoo Gerald, Michael Olu-Taiwo, Forson Obeng Akua
International Journal of Poultry Science  vol: 15  issue: 8  first page: 335  year: 2016  
doi: 10.3923/ijps.2016.335.342

20. Genetic resistance to Heterakis gallinarum in two chicken layer lines following a single dose infection
M. Gauly, A. Kanan, H. Brandt, S. Weigend, E. Moors, G. Erhardt
Veterinary Parasitology  vol: 155  issue: 1-2  first page: 74  year: 2008  
doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.04.008