PREVALENCE AND PATHOLOGY OF INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY ASCARIDIA GALLI INFECTION IN BACKYARD NATIVE CHICKEN
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Date
2022
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Abstract
A study was conducted during the period of one year to record the prevalence of infectious
diseases in native chicken reared in and around Chennai. A total of four hundred and twenty one
necropsies were carried out from dead birds collected from different organized and unorganized
poultry farms in and around Chennai. Mortality due to infectious causes was recorded to be
around 70.5% and non infectious around 29.5%. Among parasitic diseases Ascaridiasis (1.07%)
was recorded as mixed infection with other bacterial and viral disease. Among the affected flocks
three cases had clinical signs of off feed, emaciation before death. The gross changes recorded
were emaciated carcass with pale musculature, turgid intestine with congestion of serosal
vessels. Ascaridia galli worms were seen tighty entangled in the intestine, obstructing the lumen.
Histopathological examination of the intestine revealed numerous transverse and longitudinal
sections of adult Ascaridia galli worms in the lumen compressing the villi, leading to multifocal
blunt and stunted villi with MNC infiltration. Numerous exfoliated enterocytes, macrophages
and few plasma cells were seen surrounding the parasite. Hyperplasia of the crypt epithelium
and goblet cells were observed. Cut sections of Ascaridia galli were seen in the lamina propria
encapsulated by fibrous tissue and inflammatory cells. Hence, massive Ascaridia galli infection as
a sole entity, severely affects the intestinal health, causing stunted growth, poor performance and
mortality which is otherwise, easily preventable and necessitates the importance on awareness of
deworming in backyard native chicken flocks.