Open AccessGastrointestinal Parasites of Free-Range Chickens – A Worldwide Issue
Author(s) -
João Lozano,
Adriana Ana,
Antonio Palomero Salinero,
Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe,
Lúıs Gomes,
A. Paz-Silvạ,
Maria Rebelo,
Luís Madeira de Carvalho
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bulletin of university of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine cluj-napoca. veterinary medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1843-5378
pISSN - 1843-5270
DOI - 10.15835/buasvmcn-vm:2019.0019
Subject(s) - coccidia , coccidiosis , eimeria , biology , veterinary medicine , poultry farming , helminths , ascaridia galli , zoology , medicine , ecology , parasite hosting , microbiology and biotechnology , world wide web , computer science
Gastrointestinal parasites with direct and/or indirect life cycles, namely Eimeria spp., Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Capillaria spp., are responsible for the most frequent and heavy economic losses in aviculture. The current review aimed to collect information about gastrointestinal parasites affecting poultry, as well as, research studies regarding parasitic diseases in free-range chicken production. From the references used in this review, 20% highlight research studies correlating prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free-range chickens and factors such as the production system, age and animal density, hygienic conditions and weather.Coccidiosis is responsible for the major economic losses in poultry farms. Diseases have different clinical signs and result in variable impacts on animals. Control programs include mainly vaccination, anti-coccidia and anthelminthic drugs, as well as, house cleaning and disinfection. This review concluded that coccidia and helminths are a global threat to free-range poultry production. More research in this area is necessary in order to understand the major factors influencing the prevalence of parasitic diseases in this type of poultry production. Also the search for new control strategies must be a priority, mainly using natural antiparasitic compounds and biological control approaches.