African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7(25), pp. 3626-3631, 3 July, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR DOI: 10.5897//AJAR12.039 ISSN 1991-637X ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Seasonality of parasitism in free range chickens from a selected ward of a rural district in Zimbabwe Jinga Percy*, Munosiyei Pias, Bobo Desberia Enetia and Tambura Lucia Biological Sciences Department, Bindura University of Science Education, Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe. Accepted 22 May, 2012 A study to investigate the intensity of ectoparasites and gastro-intestinal tract worms of chickens in winter and summer was conducted in Ward 28 of Murehwa District in Zimbabwe. Sixty chickens given to local farmers to rear under the free-range system were examined for parasites; 30 in summer of 2009 and the other 30 in winter of 2010. In both seasons, ectoparasites collected were Argas persicus, Echidnophaga gallinacea, Dermanyssus gallinae and Cnemidocoptes mutans. The intensities of A. persicus (t= 2.54, p= 0.012) and E. gallinacea (t= 4.146, p= 0.000) were significantly higher in summer. There was no significant difference in seasonal intensity of D. gallinae (t= 0.631, p= 0.532) and C. mutans (t= 0.024, p= 0.978). The intensity of the nematode, Ascaridia galli (t= 3.889, p= 0.001) and the cestode, Choataenia infundibulum (t= 3.286, p= 0.004) were significantly higher in summer. There were no significant differences in the intensities of Allodapa suctoria (t= 0.031, p= 0.971), Heterakis gallinarum (t= 1.176, p= 0.248), Capillaria obsignata (t= 0.141, p= 0.890), Tetrameres americana (t= 0.514, p= 0.603), Hymenolepis spp. (t= 0.770, p= 0.464) and Amoebotaenia cuneata (t= 0.569, p= 0.579). Chickens were generally parasitised in Murehwa District. There is need to intensify parasite prevention and control, but more specifically, the control of A. persicus, E. gallinacea, A. galli and C. infundibulum in summer. Key words: Ectoparasite, gastro-intestinal tract worm, free range system, poultry, prevalence. INTRODUCTION In Zimbabwe, chicken production is mostly subsistence, this livestock-crop interaction for years. However, with almost all rural households practising it (Shumba parasitism significantly lowers productivity of free-range and Whingwiri, 1988). As in many other developing chickens in rural households (Okitoi et al., 1997; tropical countries, most chickens are in backyard, free- Mukaratirwa et al., 2001; Dube et al., 2010) mainly range production systems with low output (Permin et al., because of inappropriate housing and lack of pest control 2002). Many poultry owners have marginal incomes, and and preventive measures. poultry is therefore an important source of food and petty Several studies have shown that Zimbabwe’s domestic cash (Kelly et al., 1994). Free range chickens provide fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus), like other domestic meat and eggs, both cheap sources of protein, to rural livestock species, suffers from endo- and ecto-parasite dwellers. Poultry also produces several tonnes of manure infestation (Jansen and Pandey, 1989; Kelly et al., 1994). that has over the years, together with other types of Gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) worms in particular are farmyard manure, been used for crop growing hence known to cause poor feed conversion and utilisation. Past fostering a healthy interaction between livestock and crop investigations have shown that these GIT worms are a production. Rural households in Zimbabwe have relied on problem to chickens in feed-scarce rural scavenging production systems (Eshetu et al., 2001; Irungu et al., 2004) as they rob nutrients and some transmit pathogens resulting in stunted growth and reduced reproductive *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: capacity. +263 712 783 913. Fax: +263 271 7552. Common ectoparasites in chickens include lice, fleas, mites and fowl ticks. Ectoparasites may constitute a Abbreviation: GIT, Gastro-intestinal tract. clinical problem in themselves, but may also transmit a Percy et al. 3627 number of infectious pathogens and diseases to poultry, pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide as the insecticidal powder. such as Pasteurella multocida, Aegyptinella spp., Borrelia Ectoparasites were collected over a coloured surface illuminated anserine, Plasmodium spp., Newcastle and fowl pox. with a strong light source and stored in 70% alcohol. Paper bags used for transportation of chickens were also dusted. The They may also act as intermediate hosts of a range of ectoparasites were later dehydrated first in 80%, then 90% and helminth infections, such as Heterakis gallinarum, finally 99% alcohol before being cleared in xylene and mounted on Choanotaenia infundibulum and Hymenolepis spp., slides for identification with a light microscope. Ectoparasites were among others (Permin and Hansen, 1999). Ectoparasites identified according to keys described by Soulsby (1982), Walker are a clinical problem by sucking blood which can result (1994), Kaufmann (1996), Wall and Shearer (1997), and Permin and Hansen (1999). in anaemia and death of birds. Others, like the red mite, cause irritation and egg abandonment in brooding birds. Most studies in Zimbabwe have mostly sought to Collection and identification of GIT worms investigate only the presence of parasites in free-range chickens (Kelly et al., 1994; Mukaratirwa et al., 2001; Following slaughter of chickens and evisceration, the separated Permin et al., 2002; Dube et al., 2010) and other threats viscera were detached into five sections, the oesophagus, crop, gizzard with proventriculus, ceacum, and the rest of the intestines. (Muchadeyi et al., 2005). Not much has been recorded in Each section was incised longitudinally; visible worms to the naked literature on the intensity of parasites by season in eye were picked up using thumb forceps and preserved in 70% Zimbabwe. There is need to direct scarce resources at alcohol. The mucosae of the intestine were washed with tap water the right time to improve free-range chicken productivity, to remove any adhering worms. The contents were sieved through a source of livelihoods for millions in the rural areas. a 100 μm aperture test sieve to recover all smaller worms Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate (Magwisha et al., 2002). For identification, nematodes were mounted in drops of lactic acid, whereas cestodes were stained seasonality of parasitism in free-range chickens, with with aceto-alum-carmine. All worms were later examined under a particular emphasis on ectoparasites and GIT worms, so light microscope. Identification was based on keys described by as to inform, more appropriately and effectively, on Soulsby (1982), Anderson (1992), Ruff and Norton (1997), Reid allocation of merger resources for control and preventive and Mc Dougald (1997), and Permin and Hansen (1999). measures. Statistical method MATERIALS AND METHODS The difference in parasite intensity between seasons was tested by Study area the bootstrap t-test (Rozsa et al., 2000) using the software package Quantitative Parasitology 3.0. Free-range chickens were reared in Ward 28 of Murehwa District (31°38′ E, 17°48′ S) in north-eastern Zimbabwe. The area receives a mean annual rainfall of 750 to 1000 mm (USDA, 2004). Summers are warm and wet, from September to March, with temperatures RESULTS ranging from 16 to 25°C. The area experiences cold and dry winters, from April to August. Temperatures in winter range from 10 Ectoparasites to 18°C. The ward is typically rural, with subsistence crop cultivation and small-scale animal husbandry being the major sources of Four ectoparasites were identified in the two seasons and livelihood for most families. Local chicken rearing is a major activity, these were Argas persicus (Acari: Ixodida), with almost all households practising it. Echidnophaga gallinacea (Insecta: Siphonaptera), Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Mesostigmata) and Sampling Cnemidocoptes mutans (Acari: Astigmata). E. gallinacea Subsistence local farmers in Ward 28 of Murehwa District were was observed in 100% of sampled chickens, while for A. recruited as participants. They fulfilled a basic selection requirement persicus, D. gallinae and C. mutans, the prevalence was of having a fowl run. Fifteen households who met the inclusion 81.67, 75.00 and 56.67%, respectively. Figure 1 shows criterion were randomly selected from a list obtained from the the mean intensity of ectoparasites by season. district office. Free-range chicks were purchased in March 2009 and There was a higher intensity of A. persicus (t= 2.54, p= distributed to participants. Each participant was given six chicks to rear. The participants were given instructions not to administer any 0.012) and E. gallinacea (t= 4.146, p= 0.000) in summer. parasite prophylaxis. Two chickens were collected from each There was no significant difference in the intensity of D. participant, between December 2009 and March 2010, constituting gallinae (t= 0.631, p= 0.532) and C. mutans (t= 0.024, p= a summer collection, for parasitological examination. A second 0.978) between summer and winter. The most prevalent collection session, constituting a winter collection, was done ectoparasite in both seasons was E. gallinacea (100%) between July and September 2010. Sixty of the 90 distributed while the least was C. mutans (56.67%). chickens were finally examined. Parasitological examinations were done at the Department of Biological Sciences Laboratory of Bindura University of Science Education. GIT worms Collection and identification