Keywords
Cestodiasis; histopathology
Abstract
Despite great contributions of the livestock sector to the economy and livelihood of the people, the livestock sector is constrained by many challenges especially helminth infestation. Cestodiasis which substantially affects the poultry productivity is caused by digenetic cestodes. Cestodiasis has debilitating effects on the host and proves to be one of the constraints for poultry husbandry. Histopathological studies revealed that the intestine of infected fowl showed haemorrhages, less growth of villi, ulcerations, incisions, nodular growth, eroded mucosal epithelium and load dependent mild to moderate enteritis. In general, the degree and extent of enteric changes corresponded to the parasitic load. Attachment of the parasite caused traumatic lesions which might have favoured secondary bacterial infection and hence more severe cellular reaction in the infected area was found. However delineation of local effects and species specific studies are needed. The most heavily infected segment of the intestine was the lower small intestine followed by the duodenum. The least populated segment was the rectum. The infected hosts were found weak withless weight, down carrying feathers, ruffled plumage and increased appetite. Most of the infected hosts were infected by only one cestode species. This may be due to the immunity provided by one species against other species. The higher prevalence of the parasites and observed pathology directly reflects their economic importance and warrants conscious intervention for its control in backyard poultry.
Citation
Rashid S, Tanveer S and Abdullah S. Histopathological studies of cestodiasis in domestic fowl, Gallus gallusdomesticus. SM J Biol. 2019; 5(1): 1020.