Gastrointestinal helminths of local backyard chickens in North Gondar Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

SUMMARY A cross-sectional study was conducted on local backyard chickens in three selected districts of North Gondar Administrative Zone (Dembya and Gondar in midland, and Wogera in highland) to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections and identify the involved parasite species. A total of 260 chickens were purchased, sacrificed and their gastro-intestinal tracts were examined for adult helminth parasites. The overall gastrointestinal helminth prevalence was 79.62% and mixed helminth infections were found in 56.52% of birds. Nematodes (3 species) were recovered in 157 (60.38%) chickens, whereas cestodes (7 species) were found in 142 (54.62%) birds. Raillietina echinobothridia (29.62%), Raillietina tetragona (12.31%) and Hymenolepis cantaniana (10.00%) were the most prevalent cestodes identified while the recovered nematodes included Ascaridia galli (39.23%), Hetrakis gallinarium (39.62%) and Dispharynx nasuta (3.46%). Significant difference in the occurrence of cestodes was observed among the 3 selected districts, the birds from the midland areas being more frequently infected. No significant effects of age, sex or body condition on the helminth susceptibility were evidenced in the local backyard chickens. These results show that gastrointestinal helminths are highly prevalent in local backyard chickens in North Gondar and the identification of the predominant cestod and nematode species is required for establishing appropriate control and prevention strategies.