PREVALENCE AND BURDEN OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES OF GAME BIRDS IN DHAKA AND CUMILLA CITY, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The gastro-intestinal parasites have always been a problem causing severe parasitism in game birds where the herds are kept in small-range of area. This present study was carried out to investigate the gastro intestinal parasites in game birds in Dhaka and Cumilla city of Bangladesh. The samples were examined by routine coproscopical methods for the presence of different parasites and oocysts. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 42% in Bangladesh. These were documented different gastrointestinal parasites viz, Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, Capillaria sp., Balantidium coli, Eimeria spp., Giardia sp. in Bangladesh. The highest intestinal parasitic infection (60%) was observed in the fecal sample collected from Mirpur and Cumilla, followed by Shatfeet (40%), Katabon (28%) and Mohammadpur (20%) whereas, Ascaridia galli (25%) Heterakis spp. (8%), Capillaria spp. (8%), Balantidium coli (7%), Eimeria spp. (8%) and Giardia spp. (2%) were observed. In this investigation, the prevalence of Ascaridia galli was highest in pigeon (38.71%) followed by parrot (33.33%), dove (30.77%), quail (25.00%), cockatoo (14.28%), guinea fowl (14.28%) and budgerigar (13.33%) respectively. The prevalence of Heterakis gallinarum was 16.13%, 15.38% and 14.28% in pigeon, dove and cockatoo respectively. The prevalence of single infection (23%) was higher than the multiple infection (19%) of helminthes. Alongside, the prevalence of helminthic infection (29.0%) was found relatively higher than protozoan infection (24.0%). Therefore, the necessary steps should be undertaken to control the parasitic infection of pet birds.