Ascariasis Management in Chicken: Disease Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis, and Prevention

Ascariasis is a parasitic disease caused by a type of roundworm known as Ascaridia galli, which infests the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. This disease is particularly prevalent in young birds up to three months of age and can significantly impact the production and health of infected flocks.

While Ascariasis is primarily a concern for the poultry industry, it is also important from a public health perspective, as humans can potentially contract the disease through consuming contaminated poultry products. As such, efforts to control and prevent Ascariasis in poultry are important in ensuring animal and human health.

Ascariasis Management in Chicken

Causes of Ascariasis Disease

An infestation of the Ascaridia galli roundworm in the intestines of chickens causes Ascariasis. The following factors increase the risk of infection:

Dietary deficiencies: Chickens deficient in key nutrients such as vitamins A, B, and B12, as well as various minerals and proteins, may be more susceptible to Ascariasis.
Reusing litter: If litter from a previous flock is reused, it can contain infectious eggs from previous infestations, increasing the risk of infection in subsequent flocks, especially in the case of broilers.
Poor sanitation: Dirty and poorly maintained poultry houses can harbor infectious eggs and increase the risk of infection.
Contaminated feed or water: Feed and water contaminated with infectious eggs can also contribute to the spread of Ascariasis.
Age of chickens: Young birds up to 3 months of age are more susceptible to infection, while chickens over three months are more resistant.
Environmental factors: Optimum temperature and moisture conditions can lead to the hatching of A. galli eggs, which become infective to chickens in 10-12 days. Additionally, A. galli eggs are quite resistant to low temperatures, allowing them to survive in the environment for extended periods.

Disease Cycle of Ascariasis

The disease cycle of Ascariasis begins when infected chickens pass Ascaridia galli eggs in their feces. These eggs become embryonated and develop into an infective stage (L3) within 10-20 days, depending on environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. The eggs can survive for years in deep litter systems depending on the conditions.

The lifecycle is complete when a new host (another chicken) ingests the infective eggs from contaminated water or feed. The larvae hatch within 24 hours in the duodenum/jejunum, enter the histotropic phase and embed themselves into the mucosal layer of the intestine. The more eggs present, the longer the histotropic phase may last, which can be between 3 to 54 days.

The adult A. galli worms may migrate through the large intestine and cloaca lumina and end up in the oviduct, where they can be incorporated into the hen’s egg. Occasionally, earthworms can ingest A. galli eggs, and the parasites are transmitted when the chicken ingests the worm. This cycle repeats, leading to continued infection and disease transmission in chicken populations.

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Symptoms of Ascariasis Disease

Poor bodily condition and weight loss: Chickens with Ascariasis may exhibit a generally poor bodily condition and experience weight loss despite consuming sufficient feed.
Anaemia: The roundworms can cause damage to the intestinal lining, leading to blood loss and anaemia in affected birds.
Diarrhea: Ascariasis can cause gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, leading to diarrhea in affected chickens.
Haemorrhagic enteritis: In heavy infestations, Ascariasis can cause severe gastrointestinal inflammation and lead to haemorrhagic enteritis, a condition characterized by blood in the feces.
Increased mortality: Ascariasis can lead to increased mortality rates in affected flocks, particularly young birds.
Decreased egg production: Infected birds may also exhibit decreased egg production, as the disease can cause stress and decreased nutrient absorption, leading to reduced reproductive capacity.
Unthrifty appearance: Birds with Ascariasis may appear unthrifty and markedly emaciated, lacking energy and vitality.

Diagnosis of Ascariasis in Chicken

Ascaridiasis in chickens can be diagnosed through clinical signs, fecal examination, or post-mortem examination. A fecal examination can identify the presence of A. galli eggs in the feces. However, as eggs are shed intermittently and in varying numbers, the absence of eggs in one sample does not necessarily mean that worms are absent.

Post-mortem examination can reveal the presence of adult worms in the intestine or the damage caused by them, such as enteritis or pressure atrophy of the villi. Diagnosis of A. galli can also be made by identifying the individual parasites recovered through their morphology or by molecular biological methods such as PCR, which can be used to identify the species.

Treatment and Control of Ascariasis Disease

Treatment for Ascariasis in chickens typically involves using anthelmintic drugs such as piperazine salts, levamisole, or benzimidazoles administered in feed. The choice of drug will depend on the infection’s severity and the birds’ age and weight. In terms of control, in free-range systems, young birds can be isolated and placed on ground previously unused by poultry. Rotating poultry runs is also recommended to reduce the buildup of infective stages of the parasite in the soil.

In-house systems can use raised feeding and watering stations to reduce the pathogen transmission via the fecal-oral route. The use of genetically based resistance is also being studied as a potential control measure for Ascariasis. This involves identifying and selectively breeding birds with genetic traits that make them less susceptible to the parasite.

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Preventive Measures of Ascariasis Disease in Chickens

Regular deworming of chicks with piperazine compounds or other suitable dewormers as recommended by a veterinarian.
Separation of young birds from older birds to prevent transmission of the disease.
Avoid reuse of litter materials to prevent the accumulation of infectious eggs and larvae.
Changing of litter frequently can reduce the number of infectious eggs and larvae in the environment.
Treatment of the soil or litter to kill intermediate hosts such as earthworms can be useful.
Litter may be treated with suitable insecticides to control the population of intermediate hosts and other pests.
Litter materials should always be kept in a dry condition to reduce the survival of infective eggs and larvae.
Extreme care should be taken to ensure that feed and water are not contaminated with fecal matter from infected birds.

Ascariasis Management in Chicken: Disease Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis, and Prevention

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