Hasnani, J. J.Gupta, Yogesh Kumar2018-07-022018-07-022012http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810056370Studies on prevalence of GI parasites on commercial poultry farms under deep litter and cage system of housing with it's effect on haemato-biochemical profile and histopathology were imdertaken during July 2011 to June 2012. Studies involved 600 birds dropping, 30 carcasses and 100 blood samples from 30 Commercial layer and broiler farms in 6 talukas of Anand district. The overall prevalence of GI parasites on the farm basis was found 46.67 % m 30 farms of 6 taluka. Out of these overall taluka-wise prevalence was found 20% in layer farms, while 26.67% in broiler farms. However, incidence was lowest overall and among the farm and bird basis in Anand taluka, while it was highest in Umreth and Petlad taluka. Among the layers, lower incidence was observed on birds-basis in Anand and highest in Borsad taluka. The overall prevalence was found higher in deep litter than the cage reared birds/farms and also in broilers as compared to layers. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic eggs/oocyst in chickens in commercial layer as well as broiler was 9.17% on the basis of faecal/litter dropping among 600 samples. Out of these 7.67% prevalence was in layers and 10.67% in broilers. The prevalence of GI parasitic infection was higher in overall poultry birds during monsoon season (12.50%), followed by winter season (8.50%), and summer (6.50%), whereas month-wise prevalence was found to be the highest in the month of July (17.07%), while lowest incidence was found in the month of April (5.66%). A total of 4 species of gastrointestinal parasitic eggs/oocyst were identified. All of these Coccidia were the most predominant parasites followed by nematode and cestodes. The following Parasitic eggs/oocysts were found in layer birds: Eimeria spp. (3.33%), Ascaridia galli (1.33%) and Heterakis gallinarum (0.67%). some cestodes identified were: Raillietina spp. (2.33%). The following Parasitic eggs/oocysts were found in Broiler birds: Eimeria spp. (4.33%), Ascaridia galli (3.33%)), Heterakis gallinarum (1.33%) and Raillietina spp. (1.67%). No significant differences in the intensity of endoparasitic infection was observed between broiler and layer chickens. Among the layer birds the prevalence of GI parasites in the age group of 0-8, 9-20 and 21-72 weeks was 1.33, 4.67 and 1.67 %, respectively on the basis of faecal samples examination. The findings revealed that the incidence was highest in the age group of 9- 20 weeks, lowest in the age group of younger birds of 0-8 weeks and intermediate in the 21-72 weeks age group on the basis of faecal samples examination. Among the broiler birds, the prevalence of GI parasites was found to increase gradually with the advancing age from 1-4 weeks in the range of 4.00% and 5-6 weeks was 6.67 %, respectively. Overall incidence was higher for broiler birds in the age group of 5-6 weeks as compared to those in 1-4 weeks. Haematological studies revealed the haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume significantly lower in GI parasitic infected group compared to the healthy groups of birds (9.02±0.13 vs 10.93±0.20 gm% and 24.83±0.28 vs 31.60±0.31%) irrespective of type of birds or system of rearing; where as total leucocytes count and different leucocytes count were increased significantly. The overall mean total leucocytes count (TLC) for the healthy and infected group of birds was 28.58±0.22 and 31.74±0.32 thousand/mm^, respectively. In overall GI parasitic infected cases, heterophils were significantly (P< 0.05) higher (41.82±0.19%) when compared with that of uninfected (37.13±0.25%) birds. The percentage of lymphocytes (34.03±0.20) were significantly (P<0.05) lower in overall helminths affected birds than uninfected (47.26±0.33) birds. Statistical analysis revealed significant (P<0.05) eosinophilia (13.03±0.21%) in GI parasitic infected birds. The average percentage of eosinophils in uninfected birds was 7.82±0.17. The average monocyte count in birds affected with helminths was 9.60±0.20 % and in uninfected birds was 5.92±0.11 %. Studies on biochemical profile revealed significantly (P< 0.05) lower serum total protein concentration due to GI parasitic infection as compared to healthy birds. The overall mean total serum protein recorded in GI parasitic infected birds was significant (P<0.05) lower as compared to healthy birds (2.64±0.7 and 3.71±0.04 gm %). The overall mean value of AST and ALT in GI parasites infected birds was 72.36±0.25 and 8.51±0.09 U/I, and in healthy birds 68.41±0.42 and 6.71±0.10 U/I, respectively. The overall mean serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity recorded in infected birds was 814.54±4.39 and in healthy birds it was 764.09±1.91 KAU/100 ml. The overall mean serum acid phosphatase (ACP) activity recorded in infected birds was 35.22±0.28 KAU/100 ml and in healthy birds it was 23.28±0.30 KAU/100 ml. A non-significant increase in AST, ALT, AKP and ACP activities was noticed in infected birds as compared to healthy birds. The overall means A: G ratio recorded in infected birds was 0.61±0.01 and in healthy birds it was 0.75±0.04. Histopathologically, gross lesions in Raillietina spp. infection was characterized by nodule formation on duodenal mucosa. Necrotic foci, pin point haemorrhages, rough and pale mucosa of duodenimi. Microscopical lesions included villous atrophy, desquamation of epitheliimi, catarrhal enteritis, granuloma formation in duodenum, congestion, cellular infiltration, desquamation of submucosal glands and haemorrhagic exudate were observed. In case of Ascaridia galli infection, lesions were characterized by haemorrhagic enteritis, anaemia, severe diarrhoea, young parasites penetrate the duodenal or jejimal mucosa, inflammation and thickening of intestinal mucosa were found due to continuous penetration done by young larvae. Necrotic foci were seen over the intestinal mucosa whereas the embedded larvae cause haemorrhage and extensive destruction of the glandular epitheliimi. hi case of Heterakis gallinarum, the macroscopical lesions were thickening of caecal wall, hemorrhagic exudate and cheesy core in caecal lumen. Severity grades of microscopical lesions were: severe hyperplasia of tunica muscularis, massive lymphocyte, heterophil and macrophage infiltration with coagulative necrosis. In case of intestinal coccidiosis, the exterior of intestine showed reddish white pinpoint foci on its wall, especially in the initial part of the small intestine. The intestinal contents were liquid and mixed with variable quantity of mucous, while some show streaky haemorrhages. Catarrhal enteritis with blood tinged mucous exudates during moderately heavy infections of coccidia in birds and diffused or localized areas of coagulation, necrosis and sloughing of the mucosa in severe infections. In case of caecal coccidiosis, gross lesions were characterized by distention of caecal pouches with blood clots and reddish brown contents in haemorrhagic type of infection. Caecal walls were thickened, congested, extensive vacuolations in the glandular epithelial cells with increased goblet cells activity were observed. Histopathologically, intense hyperaemia of the caecal mucosa and patchy areas of haemorrhages were observed.enVETERINARY PARASITOLOGYA STUDYThesis