Experimental ascaridiasis: the influence of Ascaridia gall on weight gain and nitrogen retention In chicken
Abstract
An experimental study was carried out to
determine the influence of Ascaridia galli infection
in domestic fowls on weight gain and nitrogen
retention. Twenty four Shaver Star-bro-broiler type
hybrid ,chicks were used, They were divided into
three groups of eight; one group received 100
embryonated ova of A. galli,the other 500 ova and the
third remained uninfected as a control.
They were infected at the age of )2 days and fed on
the same experimental feed for six weeks. The feed
consumption, weight gain and nitrogen retention in
all the groups was measured for six weeks after
infection. The surprisingly low recovery of worms at
autopsy signified low infectivity and retarded worm
growth. No statistically significant differences
between the test and control groups in weight gain
and nitrogen retention were observed, probably due
to the failure to establish sufficiently heavy
infection rates.
The possible reasons Cor the low infectivity of
A. galli in the chicks are discussed.
Publisher
University of Nairobi, Department of Zoology