. 591 ISSN 0372-5480 Printed in Croatia VETERINARSKI ARHIV 82 (6), 591-597, 2012 The prevalence of intestinal helminths in broiler chickens in Trinidad The prevalence of intestinal helminths in broiler chickens in Trinidad Vandanaa Baboolal, Vandanaa Baboolal, Vijaya Suratsingh, Vijaya Suratsingh, Lana Gyan, Lana Gyan, Gabriel Brown, Gabriel Brown, Nkechi Nkechi V. Offiah, V. Offiah, Abiodun A. Adesiyun, and Abiodun A. Adesiyun, and Asoke K. Basu* Asoke K. Basu* School of Veterinary Medicine,Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, School of Veterinary Medicine,Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ BABOOLAL, V., V. SURATSINGH, L. GYAN, G. BROWN, N. V. OFFIAH, A. A. BABOOLAL, V., V. SURATSINGH, L. GYAN, G. BROWN, N. V. OFFIAH, A. A. ADESIYUN, A. K. BASU: ADESIYUN, A. K. BASU: The prevalence of intestinal helminths in broiler chickens The prevalence of intestinal helminths in broiler chickens in Trinidad. in Trinidad. Vet. arhiv 82, 591-597, 2012. ABSTRACT A study was conducted between September 2009 and August 2010 to identify intestinal helminths in A study was conducted between September 2009 and August 2010 to identify intestinal helminths in commercial broiler chickens and estimate their prevalencet in Trinidad. Three hundred and forty four intact commercial broiler chickens and estimate their prevalencet in Trinidad. Three hundred and forty four intact intestines of commercial broiler chickens were obtained from eight counties and examined. Of these 36 intestines of commercial broiler chickens were obtained from eight counties and examined. Of these 36 (10.5%) were found to harbor helminths. The chickens were found to have a single infection with nematodes (10.5%) were found to harbor helminths. The chickens were found to have a single infection with nematodes (5.5%), a single infection with cestodes (4.1%) and a mixed infection with nematodes and cestodes (0.9%). (5.5%), a single infection with cestodes (4.1%) and a mixed infection with nematodes and cestodes (0.9%). No intestinal trematodes were detected. Four species of nematodes were identified as No intestinal trematodes were detected. Four species of nematodes were identified as Ascaridia galli Ascaridia galli (5.8%), (5.8%), Heterakis gallinarum Heterakis gallinarum (0.9%), (0.9%), Subulura brumpti Subulura brumpti (0.3%), (0.3%), Capillaria Capillaria sp. (0.3%), and the three species of cestodes sp. (0.3%), and the three species of cestodes found were found were Raillietina echinobothrida Raillietina echinobothrida (2.3%), (2.3%), R. cesticillus R. cesticillus (0.9%) and (0.9%) and Choanotaenia infundibulum Choanotaenia infundibulum (2.3%). (2.3%). Helminth infection was found to be highest in the county of St. George (34.9%) followed by St. Andrew (14%), Helminth infection was found to be highest in the county of St. George (34.9%) followed by St. Andrew (14%), Caroni (9.3%), Victoria (9.3%), Mayaro (9.3%), Nariva (2.3%), St. Patrick (2.3%) and St. David (2.3%). A Caroni (9.3%), Victoria (9.3%), Mayaro (9.3%), Nariva (2.3%), St. Patrick (2.3%) and St. David (2.3%). A significant (P<0.001) difference was found in the prevalence of helminth infection between the counties. In significant (P<0.001) difference was found in the prevalence of helminth infection between the counties. In spite of the short life span and rearing under intensive farm management, broiler chickens in Trinidad harbor spite of the short life span and rearing under intensive farm management, broiler chickens in Trinidad harbor several intestinal helminths. several intestinal helminths. Key words: Key words: broiler chicken, intestinal helminths, Trinidad broiler chicken, intestinal helminths, Trinidad ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction Introduction Of the world’s poultry population of eighteen billion, about twenty-eight and a Of the world’s poultry population of eighteen billion, about twenty-eight and a half million birds made up the poultry population of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. The half million birds made up the poultry population of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. The most commonly kept poultry in Trinidad are domestic chickens ( most commonly kept poultry in Trinidad are domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus Gallus domesticus) ) and Muscovy ducks ( and Muscovy ducks (Carina moschata Carina moschata), with the former being greater in number and ), with the former being greater in number and of greater economic importance ( of greater economic importance (SINGH and SEEPERSAD, 2001 SINGH and SEEPERSAD, 2001). The annual per capita ). The annual per capita *Corresponding author: Asoke K. Basu, M.V.Sc., Ph.D., School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Asoke K. Basu, M.V.Sc., Ph.D., School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, Phone: +1 868 645 2640 ext. 4239; Fax: +1 868 6457428; E-mail: asokebasu@gmail.com