Gastrointestinal Parasites in Free-Range Chicken Raised under Extensive System from the Northeast of Brazil

ABSTRACT Brazilian poultry production is growing, mainly due to the cost and benefit that chicken meat provides. The importance of free-range chickens susceptibility, which they are exposed, makes it necessary know about gastrointestinal parasites consequences large infections can cause for them as such weight loss. present study aimed determine occurrence in hens raised an extensive regime municipality Santa Rita, state Maranhao, Brazil. studied population was composed adult (Gallus gallus domesticus) acquired from slaughterhouses region. organs each were separated subsequently conditioned flasks containing Railliet Henry’s solution sent laboratory, be analyzed processed. Of 100 examined, 227 specimens helminthes identified, with a frequency 32.6% nematodes 67.4% cestodes. Among nematode following identified: Ascaridia galli (27.03%); Heterakis gallinarum (48.65%) Subulura spp. (24, 32%). Raillietina echinobothrida (100%) only cestoda identified. average infection rate by species parasite 1.18 A. galli, 2.22 H. gallinarum, 1.06 9.00 R. echinobothrida. It concluded parasitized cestoda.