Assessment of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Chicken Slaughtered in Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the gastrointestinal parasites among slaughtered Chicken at Yam Zone Market, Creek Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Study Design: Gastrointestinal tracts of slaughtered chicken were collected weekly from a vendor. Each part of the GIT was emptied into separate vessel containing normal saline.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in a chicken market in Port Harcourt, Nigeria for a period of 4 months (January-April 2020).

Methodology: A total of 100 chickens (comprising of broilers and layers) of which samples were collected from their gastrointestinal tracts were examined using formol-ether concentration methods for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites.

Results: Eighty-four (84) parts of the gastrointestinal tracts accounted for 14.0% found to be infected with parasites. The gastrointestinal protozoan isolated is Eimeria spp (52.4%) while helminths species found were, Ascaridia galli (47.6%). There were no cestodes and trematodes identified.

Conclusion: Poultry management system needs to be improved with a viable biosecurity control strategy towards healthy production of livestock chickens for human consumption.