| dc.description.abstract | A study was conducted to determine the type and prevalence of gastrointestinal, ecto and
haemo-parasites and the intensity and pathology associated with the infections in different
age and sex groups of ducks in Nairobi and its environs. One hundred and forty five ducks
were purchased from individual farmers in three districts in Nairobi (Embakasi, Westlands
and Kasarani) and neighboring Thika district. Each duck was clinically examined;
ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths identified and quantified; and a full post mortem
examination undertaken. Gastrointestinal and skin tissues were collected for histopathology
and the severity of the lesions determined. Two thin blood smears were prepared from each
bird, processed and examined for haemoparasites. Data obtained was tabulated as number of
ducks of different age and sex groups infected with a particular parasite group, entered in
Ms-Excel and later exported to Genstat® Discovery edition 3 for descriptive statistics. It
was analyzed using Chi square (x\ student t-test and one way analysis of variance. Over
fifty one percent (75/145) of ducks of different age groups and sex were infected with
gastrointestinal helminths. Of these, ducklings had a prevalence of 40.0 % (30/75), growers
37.33 % (28/75) and adults 22.67 % (17/75) (p<0.05). Female ducks had a prevalence of
57.33% (43/75) compared to 42.67 % (32/75) of male birds (p<0.05). Thika district had the
highest prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of 37.33 % (28/75) compared to Westlands,
Embakasi and Kasarani which had 29.33 % (22/75), 26.67 % (20/75) and 6.67 % (5/75)
respectively (p<0.05). Nematodes were the most predominant helminths 73/145 (50.34 %)
followed by cestodes 2/145 (1.38 %) but there were no trematodes. Nematodes recovered
were Gongylonema ingluvicola 35/145 (24.14 %), Ascaridia galli 21/145 (14.48 %),
Heterakis gallinarum 22/J 45 (15.17 %), Capillaria contorta 14/145 (9.66 %), Subulura
brumpti 81145 (5.52 %) and Heterakis isolonche 5/145 (3.45 %). Hymenolepis species was
the only cestode observed in the study at a prevalence of 1.38 %. The mean helminth
infection was 19, 13, 11 and 5 worms per bird (p<0.05) in Embakasi, Westlands, Thika and
Kasarani districts, respectively. Within the age groups, mean helminth infection was 10, 18
and 6 (p<0.05) in ducklings, growers and adults birds, respectively. Among the sexes, males
had 15 compared to female ducks with a mean of 9 worms (p<0.05). This study has
documented the occurrence of G. ingluvicola in ducks for the first time. Heamoparasites
were observed in 70114548.28 % of the ducks. Their prevalence was 38.57 % (27170), 24.29
% (17170),20.0 % (14170) and 17.14 % (12170) (p>0.05) for Embakasi, Westlands, Kasarani
and Thika districts, respectively. Four haemoparasites identified were Aegyptinella pullorum
59/145 (40.69 %), Leucocytozoon caulleryi 101145 (6.90 %), Haemoproteus species 11145
(0.69 %) and Eperythrozoon species 51145 (3.45 %). Grower ducks had a prevalence of
35.71% (25170), adults, 34.29 % (24170) and ducklings, 30.0 % (21170) (p>0.05). Male and
female ducks had an equal prevalence of 50.0 % (35170). Echidnophaga gallinacea was the
only ectoparasite observed in 51 (35.17 %) ducks. Grower ducks had a 47.06 % (24/51)
prevalence which was higher than ducklings, 3l.37 % (16/51) and adult birds, 2l.57 %
(11/51) (p<0.05). Females had a higher prevalence of 58.82 % (30/51) compared to male
ducks at 41.18 % (21/51) (p<0.05). Thika District had the highest prevalence 45.09 %
(23/51) of E. gallinacea infestation followed by Embakasi 25.49 % (13/51), Kasarani 15.69
% (8/51) and Westlands 13.73 % (7/51) districts, respectively (p<0.05). Echidnophaga
gallinacea is documented in ducks in Kenya for the first time. Gross pathological lesions
were observed in 34/145 (23.45) % of the gastrointestinal tracts of the ducks examined.
Over fifty five percent (19/145) were observed in the small intestines, duodenum 38.24 %
(13/145) and large intestines 5.88 % (2/145). The lesions observed were mainly hyperemia,
haemorrhages and presence of excessive mucus. There were no gross lesions observed in the
oesophagus, proventriculus, gizzard and caeca of ducks. Mild to moderate microscopic
lesions in form of desquamation of epithelium, matting of villi and inflammatory cell
infiltration of the lamina propria were observed in 121 (83.45 %) of the gastrointestinal
tracts of the ducks with majority being moderate lesions. Grower ducks had a higher
prevalence of lesions 36.36 % (44/121) compared to ducklings 35.54 % (43/121) and adults
28.10% (34/121) (p>O.05). Females had a higher prevalence of 51.24 % (62/121), compared
to male ducks 48.76 % (59/121) (p>O.05). Over thirty three percent (48/145) of the
oesophagi of ducks had microscopic lesions which were attributable to G. ingluvicola. The
lesions comprised of tracts or tunnels in the epithelium of the oesophagus, sections of the
worms, eggs embedded in the mucosa and inflammatory cells infiltration. Microscopic
lesions were observed in 48/145 of the intestines, of which, 37.5 % of these had sections of
A.galli and Hymenolepis spp. parasites in them. Lesions composed of worm sections,
epithelial desquamation, matting of villi, villi atrophy and cellular infiltration of the lamina
propria. Over twenty two percent (22.76 %) of the caeca had lesions of which 57.58 % of
these had Heterakis and Subulura parasites in them. This study has demonstrated the
occurrence of helminths, haemoparasites and an ectoparasite in different sexes and age
groups of apparently healthy appearing ducks. Significantly, this study reports for the first
time the occurrence of these parasites in Kenya. Their impact on productivity of ducks and
the role they play in other poultry should be investigated and control strategies initiated
where necessary to improve the health and productivity of ducks and other poultry in Kenya | en |
