Prevalence and the Associated Lesions of Cheilospirura (Acuaria) hamulosa in the Indigenous Chicken of Kashmir Valley, India

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 1436 - 1439
• Main Authors: Salam, S. T, Mir, M. S, Shahnaz, S, Khan, R. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Parasitologists 01.12.2009; Allen Press Inc
• Subjects: Acuaria; Acuarioidea; animal parasitic nematodes; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Chickens; Chickens - parasitology; disease prevalence; Eggs; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Gizzard; Gizzard, Avian - parasitology; Gizzard, Avian - pathology; histopathology; India - epidemiology; indigenous fowl; infection; Infections; inflammation; Invertebrates; Lesions; lesions (animal); Lymphocytes; Male; Mucosa; Nematoda; nematode infections; Nematodes; Nodules; Parasite hosts; Parasites; PATHOLOGY; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - parasitology; Poultry Diseases - pathology; Prevalence; Research s; Seasons; Spirurida - anatomy & histology; Spirurida - pathogenicity; Spirurida Infections - epidemiology; Spirurida Infections - pathology; Spirurida Infections - veterinary; Veterinary medicine; India; Asia; Parasite; Vertebrata; Chicken; Prevalence; Lesion; Aves
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/GE-2255.1

The present investigation reports the results from a 2-yr study conducted on the prevalence and associated lesions of the nematode Cheilospirura (Acuaria) hamulosa (Nematoda, Acuarioidea) in a sample size of 478 indigenous fowl collected from different localities of Kashmir Valley, India. The investigation revealed the annual prevalence for the nematode for the first and second yr of study to be 3.4% (8/233) and 3.7% (9/245), respectively, with an overall prevalence of 3.5% (17/478). Parasitized birds did not present with clinical signs. Despite the low parasite burdens, the lesions induced by C. hamulosa were severe. Histological examination of the infected gizzard revealed discrete and coalescing nodular and cystic lesions in the mucosa and musculature which contained sections of the parasite. Cellular reaction in the lesions was characterized by a large number of lymphocytes, monocytes, plasma cells, heterophils, and, in some of the sections, severe eosinophilic reaction. The mucosa and submucosa showed markedly thickened and diffuse mononuclear infiltration as well as reactive lymphoid nodules.