Worms in Poultry

Interview

This interview was part of a study course I am taking. To make sure it suited my YouTube channel, I asked my mother if I could interview her about parasite infections in poultry.

She is a biomedical analyst and runs her own company specializing in parasite infections in horses.

DISCLAIMER: Specializing in horse parasites does not make her an expert in poultry infections. She has general knowledge about worm infections and has consulted the sources listed below. Always contact your local veterinarian for more information about parasite infections in poultry.

What is an parasite infection?

"The most common poultry parasites can be worms but also unicellular parasites."

Coccidiosis is an example of a unicellular parasite, also called a protozoan parasite.

"Roundworms, gapeworms, and nematode parasites in the cecum are the most common parasites in poultry."

"Parasites can be divided into two categories: direct and indirect lifecycles.

Direct lifecycle: The bird picks up the infection from the environment. The parasite develops within the bird, and when the bird defecates, the land becomes re-infected with the parasite.

Indirect lifecycle: The infection requires an intermediate host. For example, tapeworm infection in chickens: ants eat the tapeworm eggs, the chickens eat the ants, becoming infected themselves, and then re-infect the environment with their feces."

What can you do to avoid infection?

"It's a good idea to rotate the land your birds have access to, so they don't continue to free-range on infected ground. Parasite infections can take a long time to disappear from the soil.

Of course, this can be challenging if you don't have much land."

Other prevention tips:

• Avoid overcrowding.

• Keep the coop and run clean.

• Perform a fecal test on new birds before introducing them.

• Avoid feeding outside on fresh ground.

• Try to prevent contact between your birds and wild birds.

"Parasite worms are species-specific, which means humans cannot get infected by poultry parasites.

However, poultry are avian, so they can share the same types of parasites as wild birds. This means wild birds can also contaminate the land where your birds roam."

How do I know if my birds have worms?

"You can sometimes find parasites in their feces, but they are most reliably detected during an autopsy. The most common way to determine if your bird is infected is to perform a fecal test to check for the presence of worm eggs."

"It's a dangerous myth that you can fully deworm naturally. Boosting gut health is beneficial for several reasons, but it will not replace proper deworming when needed."

When and what should you deworm with?

"On the other hand, you should not deworm if it's not necessary, as this can lead to worms developing resistance to deworming drugs.

It's best to order a fecal test through your veterinarian. This ensures that you use the right medication for your birds' specific infection."

"Benzimidazoles are deworming drugs that are effective against the widest range of worm species."

What are the symtoms of roundworm infection?

"Most adult poultry do not show symptoms of roundworm infection. It is usually the younger birds that display symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea

• Bloody diarrhea

• Dirty eggshells

• Reduced egg production

• Increased hunger

• Wet bedding"

Gapeworm

"The worm that can cause the most damage in poultry is the gapeworm. The most common symptom of a gapeworm infection is that the bird will stretch its neck to breathe.

• The female gapeworm attaches to the chicken's throat and feeds on blood. The male remains attached to the female in a constant mating position.

• Gapeworms are specific to chickens and some wild birds."

Sources:

SVA - Roundworm infection in Chickens

SVA - Gapeworm infection in chickens  

SVA - Nematode infection 

To prevent parasite infection

Coccidiosis in chickens