Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)

Volume 2, No. 1,  2019
Pages 58-69

The Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris Galeata) Slaughtered in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Saratu Y¹. , Ajanusi O. J. ²., Tekdek L. B. ³., Simon M. K. ⁴., Adamu Y.^5 
1 Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources Damaturu. Yobe State. Nigeria.
²Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, A.B.U. Zaria.
³Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

⁴Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja

⁵Dathan Vet and Agro-Services Consult No 16 Ishaku Yari Street Old NEPA Field Romi Kaduna, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) slaughtered in Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 200 adult Guinea fowls were sampled. The entire gastrointestinal tracts were collected. While simple flotation technique was used to collect helminth eggs in the faeces for identification. The endoparasites recovered from the gastrointestinal tracts were properly examined. Of the 200 guinea fowls examined, a total or 168 (84 %) were infected with helminth parasites. A total of 9 helminths were recovered from the infected Guinea fowls – 4 nematodes and 5 cestodes. The nematodes were Ascaridia numidae, Subulura brumpti, Heterakis numidaenarum and Syngamus trachea with prevalence of 57 % (114), 24 % (48), 10 % (20) and 10 % (20), respectively. Raillietina tetragona, R. echinobothrida, R. cesticillus, R. magninumida and Hymenolepis carioca were the cestodes identified with prevalence of 58 % (116), 33 % (66), 2.5 % (5), 0.5 % (1) and 0.5 % (1) respectively. 140 (70 %) of the guinea fowls shed helminth eggs in their faeces. The helminth eggs and oocysts recovered belongs to Ascaridia, Capillaria, Syngamus, Heterakis, Raillietina, Strongyle and Eimeria with a percentage prevalence of 55 % (110), 36 % (72), 29 % 58), 8.5 % (17), 7 % (14) and 0.5 % (1), respectively. Majority of the Guinea fowls slaughtered within Kaduna metropolis had high prevalence of gastrointestinal (cestodes and nematodes) which is a very serious problem to the guinea fowl population. It may be due to the absence of good management practices and hygienic conditions which when properly harnessed can control this menace in the Guinea fowl population in Kaduna metropolis.
Keywords: Prevalence, Gastrointestinal, Tracts, Parasite, Helminths, Guinea Fowl

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