Emerging Haemosporidian Infections in Village Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

: In some parts of Nigeria, studies have revealed avian haemosporidian infections in village chickens, some of which are considered emerging parasitic infections because chickens are unnatural hosts. Infections may have occurred as a result of accidental cross-infection via infected haemophagus arthropod vectors. This study was carried out to determine the emerging avian haemosporidian infections in Village chickens in Yobe State, Nigeria using microscopy. Blood samples were collected from 2100 Village chickens in 7 Local Government Areas of Yobe State. Microscopy revealed an overall prevalence of 13.8% (290/2100) for avian haemosporidians comprising of Plasmodium with 13.9% (198/2100) and Haemoproteus 2.4% (55/2100) as single infections. Mixed infection of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus had a prevalence of 1.8% (37/1820). Male (9.9%) had a higher prevalence of avian haemosporidian infections than female chickens (4.0%). Adults (10.4%) had a higher prevalence than growers chickens (3.4%), and prevalence was higher in the rainy (9.3%) than the dry (4.5%) season of the study period. Detection of Haemoproteus specie in chickens in Yobe State is considered an emergent infection because chickens are not natural host to the parasite. It is therefore recommended that Village chicken producers should be educated on the risk factors and impacts of avian haemosporidian on bird productivity through frequent agricultural extension services. More research is needed to assess the frequency of avian haemosporidian infections in other poultry species in Nigeria, in order to better understand the disease's epidemiology and develop effective management and prevention strategies.