Mixed infection of helminthiasis and caecal coccidiosis in a native chicken farm from Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu

Muthusamy, P., Latchumikanthan, A. and Thirumavalavan, R. 2020. Mixed infection of helminthiasis and caecal coccidiosis in a native chicken farm from Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 55(2): 157–160.

The present study reported the mixed infection of roundworm Ascaridia galli and caecal coccidiosis by Eimeria species in a native chicken farm having 70 numbers of two and half month old Aseel chicken maintained in a semi-intensive system at Kolathur, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. History of the affected chicken farm includes dullness in birds, inappetance, brownish colour diarrhoea mixed with blood voided by few birds and mortality of 4 birds within 2 days (5.71%) of onset. Necropsy examination of carcasses revealed that emaciated carcass, soiling of vent with reddish droppings, roundworm infestation in the small intestine and enlargement of caecum with haemorrhages. Examination of intestinal mucosal contents revealed oval eggs with 75 × 50 im size confirmed as Ascaridia galli egg. The collected round worms from small intestine belong to Ascaridia galli. Microscopic examination of caecal contents showed unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria sp. Random collection of faecal samples from live birds also confirmed the prevalence of Ascaridia galli (28.57%) and Eimeria sp. (21.42%) in the farm. This study indicates mixed parasitic infections and importance of deworming and specific treatment for disease of the native Aseel chickens in a semi-intensive system of rearing.