Gastrointestinal Parasite o Kadaknath Chicken(Gallus Gallus Domesticus Linnaeus, 1758) And Cross Breed Kadaknath In Suddodhan Rural Municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal

Abstract

Kadaknath is a native bird of Madhya Pradesh and recently introduced in poultry farming in Belawa, Rupandehi, Nepal whereas cross breed were later introduced in the farm and these are the cross of pure breed Kadaknath and local chicken(New Hampshire breed). A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of Kadaknath and cross breed Kadaknath in Suddodhan rural municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal. A total of 150 fecal samples were collected from the farm comprising of Kadaknath (100) and cross breed (50) and examined using concentration methods and 54% of Kadaknath and 44% of cross breed were infected. Three species of nematodes and two species of Eimeria from both pure breed and cross breed and only one species of cestode from Kadaknath were recorded. In case of Kadaknath, highest prevalence rate was found infected with Ascaridia sp. (35%) followed by Heterakis sp. (12%) and Eimeria tenella (12%), Eimeria maxima (7%), Raillietina sp. (4%) and Trichostrongylus sp. (2%). Eimeria tenella and Ascaridia sp. showed the heavy mode of infection in Kadaknath. Whereas in cross breed, highest prevalence rate was found Ascaridia sp. (24%) followed by Heterakis sp. (20%) and other parasites. Only Eimeria maxima (4%) showed heavy mode of infection. Overall comparison between parasites of both the breeds showed higher prevalence in Kadaknath compared to cross breed. Only Trichostrongylus sp. nematode parasite was found significantly high infection in cross breed compared to Kadaknath (χ2 value=4.79, p=0.033) revealing that cross breed are more susceptible to Trichostrongylus sp. compared to pure breed. Whereas single and triple mode of infection were found to be statistically significant between these breeds as in pure breed, infection of Ascaridia sp. was significantly high (χ2=10.20, p=0.001). Although both group of chicken are susceptible for various parasitic infection, to prevent the chances of parasitic transfer between them, the flock should be farmed completely separate and both breeds should be treated with antihelminthic and antiprotozoal drugs on a regular basis.