“Molecular and ultrastructural studies of helminth parasites infecting domesticated birds in Egypt”

Abstract

In Egypt, the greatest impediment to poultry production is the diseases. The domestic birds are raised traditionally in villages without any veterinary care, thereby exposure to parasitic infections is expected. Therefore, the records of intestinal helminth parasites described in this study are important. This is attributed to the great value of poultry production in Egypt. The prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites in different domestic birds including pigeons (Columba livia domestica), chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) and white chickens, were conducted throughout the period between April 2015 and June 2017. A total of 553 domestic birds were collected and the intestinal tracts were examined for helminth infection. The collected cestodes and nematodes were prepared for light, and scanning electron microscopy. As well as DNA was extracted for molecular studies. Eight species of helminth parasites were recorded: three nematode species; Ascaridia galli, A. columbae and Heterakis gallinarum and five species of cestodes; Raillietina echinobothrida, R. tetragona, R. sp., Cotugnia digonopora and Choanotaenia infundibulum.