The occurrence of Heterakis gallinarum infection in a flock of Rhode Island Red laying hens is described. These hens were entirely kept in houses on a farm for commercial egg production, where a deep litter production system was adopted. Faecal samples from 120 hens selected at random were examined by common flotation technique and modified McMaster's technique. H. gallinarum eggs were detected in 50% of the examined samples with very low faecal egg counts (<50 eggs per gram of faeces). There was no evidence of clinical signs, gross pathological lesions, and consequences on production level linkable to heterakiasis. H. gallinarum is transmitted by direct ingestion of infective eggs from the soil and is one of the most important intestinal helminths of poultry due to the role it plays as vector of histomoniasis. In accordance with European legislation on the welfare of laying hens, a progressively increasing number of farmers can adopt breeding programs on soil. Periodic coprological examinations of chickens reared on commercial farms from areas throughout Italy are thus advisable to determine the exact distribution of H. gallinarum and the extent to which heterakiasis may influence health status and production of chickens in this country.
Observations on the occurrence of Heterakis gallinarum in laying hens kept on soil
PAPINI, ROBERTO AMERIGO;
2008-01-01
Abstract
The occurrence of Heterakis gallinarum infection in a flock of Rhode Island Red laying hens is described. These hens were entirely kept in houses on a farm for commercial egg production, where a deep litter production system was adopted. Faecal samples from 120 hens selected at random were examined by common flotation technique and modified McMaster's technique. H. gallinarum eggs were detected in 50% of the examined samples with very low faecal egg counts (<50 eggs per gram of faeces). There was no evidence of clinical signs, gross pathological lesions, and consequences on production level linkable to heterakiasis. H. gallinarum is transmitted by direct ingestion of infective eggs from the soil and is one of the most important intestinal helminths of poultry due to the role it plays as vector of histomoniasis. In accordance with European legislation on the welfare of laying hens, a progressively increasing number of farmers can adopt breeding programs on soil. Periodic coprological examinations of chickens reared on commercial farms from areas throughout Italy are thus advisable to determine the exact distribution of H. gallinarum and the extent to which heterakiasis may influence health status and production of chickens in this country.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
