PATHOGENICITY OF ASCARIDIA GALLIi INFECTION IN BROILER CHICKEN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WEIGHT GAIN
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Date
1995
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCE,MANNUTHY
Abstract
A study carried out to assess the pathogenic effect of
the developmental stages of Ascaridia qalli in broiler
chicks for a period of eight weeks, revealed clinical signs
like general weakness, unthriftiness, ruffled feathers and
loss of appetite, besides the delayed development of comb,
wattles and feathers. On post—mortem examination of the
experimentally infected chicks, large numbers of larvae
were recovered from 2nd day PI onwards and the lumen
larvae were detected from 14th day PI. The intestinal
contents were frothy, mucus mixed and had many immature
worms. In the small intestine the worms embeded in the
mucosa with their anterior extremities.
Histopathological studies revealed disruption of
desquamation of epithelium, infiltration with
mononuclear cells, focal necrosis, congestion and
haemorrhage in the mucosa and cystic changes of mucosal
glands.
Sections of larvae in the mucosa at different
histological locations were detected on 4th , 10th, 14th and
17th days PI. in addition, cut sections of degenerated
larvae were also observed.
Haematological studies indicated a statistically
significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate,
total leucocyte count, total heterophil and eosinophil
counts. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and total
erythrocyte count were significantly decreased. Lymphocyte
count was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in all the
infected groups upto 37th day PI^later the count was
gradually increased in all the infected groups.
The mean body weight and mean body weight gain in the
infected group of chicks were significantly lesser than the
control group chicks (P <0.01). The mean weekly feed
intake and mean weekly feed conversion ratio were lesser
in the infected groups of chicks than control
ones,although the difference was not statistically
significant.
The morbidity rate was high in all the infected
chicks, but mortality was not recorded during the
experimental period. Coprological study confirmed the
maturation period for A. qalli in groups A, B, C and D as
59, 59, 50 and 44 days respectively.
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