Review on epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, control and prevention of gastrointestinal parasite of poultry

Abstract

Gastrointestinal tract is one of the organ systems which infected by different pathogenic organisms specifically the predilection sites for different parasites (helminthes and protozoa) which absorb the nutrient and predispose to another infection. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the published information regarding the epidemiology and the diagnostic approaches of chicken helminthes infection and coccidiosis. The disease is the main constraints of poultry production in different parts of world and gastrointestinal parasite is the most common infections of poultries directly and predisposes to others different infection. The common internal parasitic infections occur in poultry include cestodes, nematodes and coccidian that may cause considerable damage and great economic loss to the poultry industry due to malnutrition, decreased feed conversion ratio, weight loss, lowered egg production and death in young birds. Furthermore, parasites can make the flock less resistant to diseases and exacerbate existing disease conditions. Poultry coccidiosis generates economic losses due to mortality, reduced body weight plus the expenses related to preventive and therapeutic control. More research and investigation related to epidemiology and risk factors of gastrointestinal parasite should apply to increase the poultry production.