Tetrameres Infection in local poultry in Katsina State, Nigeria

Introduction and insects which can act as reservoirs or vectors for a range of bacterial and helmintic diseases( Permin Poultry outnumbers all other forms of livestock in et.al.,1997). A study on the incidence of worms in Nigeria, and, not surprisingly, are found throughout the chicken farms in Nigeria found that the most common country, wherever there is human settlement. Chickens species were Ascaridia galli, Prosthogonium spp., are by far the most common, others are pigeons, ducks Strongyloids avium and Heterakis gallinarum (Tona, and Guinea fowl, and some turkeys, are also kept ( 1995). Raillietina spp and Davainea progglottina Akinwumi et al., 1979, Adene and Oguntade, 2006) occurred only in free-range chickens. Tetrameres spp .They are maintained under traditional, low input, freeinfestation was listed as one of helminths encountered range systems of management, however, substantial in local poultry in Nigeria (Fatumbi and Adene, 1979, numbers are also reared intensively on a commercial Adene, 2008). Kamani et al., (2008) reported Tetrameres basis. The total estimated population of chickens in fissispina infestation as being responsible for mortalities Nigeria is 82.4 million (RIM, 1992, Adene and in local chicken flocks in Taraba State. Although, Oguntade, 2006). The rural poultry population in most Fatumbi and Adene, (1979), reported the occurrence African countries accounts for more than 60 percent of and pathogenicity of Tetrameres sp. in guinea fowls and the total national poultry population, which has been chicken in Nigeria, there has been little documentation in accorded an asset value of US$5 750 million at 1990 relation to the epidemiology, pathogenicity and economic naira exchange rate (Sonaiya, 1990a). importance of this parasite in the Nigerian poultry The major constraint on traditional chicken industry. This paper reports a case of Tetrameres production is disease, such as Newcastle disease, americana infestation in a flock of local poultry causing which particularly affects local breeds during particular mortalities of local birds in another agro-ecological seasons of the year (Anjum et al, 1993, Lambert and region of Nigeria, thus emphasizing the increasing Kabar, 1994, Saidu et.al, 2006). By their mode of life on importance of this parasite in rural flock health and free range, and scavenging habits, traditional village productivity. poultry are in permanent contact with other flocks, soil Flock History : Affected farm has a back yard semiAbstract