| Autor: |
Silva JTD; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG, Patos, PB, Brasil., Alvares FBV; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil., Oliveira CSM; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil., Sousa LC; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil., Lima BA; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil., Feitosa TF; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil., Brasil AWL; Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil., Vilela VLR; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG, Patos, PB, Brasil.; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Instituto Federal da Paraíba - IFPB, Sousa, PB, Brasil. |
| Abstrakt: |
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and diversity of endoparasitic fauna and the risk factors associated with parasite infections in free-range chickens in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Ten municipalities were visited and, in each of them, ten farms, to collect animal feces and apply epidemiological questionnaires. Feces from 417 poultry were used to perform EPG (eggs per gram) and OoPG (oocysts per gram) tests. Prevalences of 40.52% (169/417) and 39.08% (163/417) were observed for nematodes and coccidia, respectively. In 17% (71/417), mixed infections by nematodes and coccidia were observed. Nematodes of Heterakoidea superfamily were present in 100% of the positive samples (169/169), followed by Trichuris spp. (57.3%; 97/169). All the protozoan oocysts observed belonged to the genus Eimeria (100%; 163/163). The variable of presence of drooping wings was considered to be a factor associated with infection by coccidia (odds ratio = 5.412; confidence interval: 1.179-24.848; p = 0.030). It was concluded that there is high prevalence of nematodes and coccidia in free-range chickens in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Better sanitary management measures, with greater hygiene of facilities, together with chemical control of parasites, can improve productivity by reducing the rate of gastrointestinal parasites. |
