Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths in Chickens and Ducks Managed under Backyard System in Imphal West District of Manipur, India

Helminth are the most widespread endoparasites infecting fowls in India. Infection with parasites causes reduction in the growth rate and weight loss leading to low production. In the regions of concern, the most prevalent helminth were Ascaridia spp. and Raillietina spp. The variation of their prevalence is attributable to differences in local environmental conditions, which support larval development and facilitate transmission. Firm measures should be undertaken to control the parasites which effects economically. The poultry industry is an infant but fast-growing sector in Manipur. However, it is largely dependent on local chicken and ducks managed under backyard production system. The sector is facing different challenges mainly emanate from prevalence of infectious diseases such as helminthic infection. The study has taken up to determine the infection rate and identify the helminth parasite species in domestic fowls. A cross- sectional study was conducted from Dec, 2022 to October 2024. Post mortem samples of 116 chickens and 70 ducks were collected for necroscopy examination to identify infecting Helminthes in GI tract from different localities of Imphal West district of Manipur. The study shows overall prevalence of 41.93 % in the studied domestic fowls with Raillietina spp. (69.69%) being the most prevalent in chicken and Ascaridia spp. (59.45%) in duck. Heterakis spp. (8.9%) is found only in chicken in the present study. Out of 52 positive chickens and 26 positive ducks, 14 chickens and 12 ducks were found to have mixed infections. The study demonstrates unequivocally that helminth infection is prevalent in the studied domestic fowls and confirms the significant frequency of the worms Ascaridia spp. and Raillietina spp. in the Imphal West District of Manipur, India.