Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Chicken Slaughtered in Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt
Elele Kingsley
Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Adedokun Ambali Amudatu *
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The study was conducted to determine the gastrointestinal parasites among slaughtered Chicken at Yam Zone Market, Creek Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Study Design: Gastrointestinal tracts of slaughtered chicken were collected weekly from a vendor. Each part of the GIT was emptied into separate vessel containing normal saline.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in a chicken market in Port Harcourt, Nigeria for a period of 4 months (January-April 2020).
Methodology: A total of 100 chickens (comprising of broilers and layers) of which samples were collected from their gastrointestinal tracts were examined using formol-ether concentration methods for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites.
Results: Eighty-four (84) parts of the gastrointestinal tracts accounted for 14.0% found to be infected with parasites. The gastrointestinal protozoan isolated is Eimeria spp (52.4%) while helminths species found were, Ascaridia galli (47.6%). There were no cestodes and trematodes identified.
Conclusion: Poultry management system needs to be improved with a viable biosecurity control strategy towards healthy production of livestock chickens for human consumption.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal parasites, chickens, eimeria spp, ascaridia galli, port harcourt