Study of The Parasites of The Local Chickens (Gallus Gallus Domisticus) in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

One hundred and twenty chickens the local breed (Gallus gallus domesticus) were examined during the period from June to October 2012 in Duhok Province / Kurdistan Region of Iraq. To investigate the prevalence of ecto and endoparasites among them. The recorded parasites included: Two species of lice namely Mencanths stramineus with infestation rates of 34% and Goniocotes gallinae, with infestation rate of 0.8%. One species of soft tick, genus Aragas persicus, was also recorded, with an infestation rate of 4.1%. Whereas, the endoparasite examination revealed 16.6% from protozoa (Eimeria) and the presence of four nematodes and six cestode species, but no trematodes and blood parasites. The highest nematode infection rate was 46.6% with Subulura species, followed by Ascaridia galli with infection rate of 38.3%, Heterakis gallinarum with infection rate of 25% and, Capillaria with infection rate of 4.1%. Regarding cestodes, the recorded species included: Raillietina tetragona, R. echinobothrida, R. cesticillus, Fimbriaria fasciolari, Davainea proglottina, and  Amoebotaenia sphenoides with infection rates of 27.5%, 24.1%, 6.6%, 1.6%, 2.5%, and 0.8%, respectively.