Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ascaris in Poultry in and Around Bahir Dar Zuria District; Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to June 2019 to investigate ascaris in chickens in and around Bahir Dar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 351 chickens comprising of 168 exotic and 182 local were examined for ascaris infections. Out of these, 55 (15.67%) were found to be infected with ascaris. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence between breeds of chickens in which higher infection rate was observed in local breed chickens (22.53%) than exotic breeds (8.88%). In addition, there was higher statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence between body condition of chicken. Among this group poor body conditions chicken was higher (50%) than good body condition (4.56%). In addition, there was a statistically significant association (p<0.05) in prevalence between the different management systems where there was higher infection rate was recorded in extensive farming system (21.46%) compared to semi intensive (6.82%). There was also higher statistically significant difference among hygienic practice of chicken house in which the prevalence of the infection was 39.05% and 6.12% in poor and good hygiene. There was also high statistically significant difference among availability of dewormer, in which the prevalence of infection was 15.76% and 0% in non-available and available of dewormers. In conclusion the management system should be improved especially the housing and hygienic practice. Veterinarian think about deworming of parasites when supervise poultry farms to enhance productivity in addition to antibiotics. Since there are lack of access for dewormer for smallholder farmers veterinarian should be search alternate; easily accessible and affordable drug for poultry internal parasite.