Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among grey-breasted helmet guinea fowls () encountered in Gombe state, Nigeria.

This cross sectional survey was conducted from July to December 2015 in order to investigate the burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among guinea fowls in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of six hundred fowls (viscera) were purchased from six randomly selected slaughter slabs. Out of the 600 birds examined, 479 (79.83%; 95% CI: 76.4, 82.9) were found harbouring one or more gastrointestinal helminthes. Of this, 238 birds (39.7%; 35.8, 43.6) were infected by nematode species and 392 birds (65.3%; 61.4, 69.0) by cestode species. A total of nine nematodes and seven cestodes species were recovered from these birds. There was no any trematode observed among the studied birds. The prevalences of the nematodes identified in descending order were: 56.7% (52.7, 60.6); 38.0% (34.2, 42.0); 17.2% (14.4, 20.4); 8.3% (6.4, 10.8); 3.5% (2.3, 5.3); 3.2% (2.0, 5.0); 2.2% (1.3, 3.7) and both and had 0.7% (0.3, 1.7). While for cestodes: 72.8% (69.1, 76.2); 67.3% (63.5, 71.0); 50% (46.0, 54.0); 25.7% (22.3, 29.3); 17.3% (14.5, 20.6); 4.2% (2.8, 6.1) and the lowest was observed in with 2% (1.2, 3.5). Infection rates did not differ significantly based on sex ( > 005). However, the occurrence of mixed infection as compared with single infection was statistically significant in both cestodes and nematodes ( < 0001). The results obtained indicated high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes among guinea fowls. These birds may serve as important source of helminthes to other commercial birds in the study area.