Helminths of Poultry in Kansas1,2

Helminths of Poultry in Kansas1'2 C. F. DIXON 3 AND M. F. HANSEN Department of Zoology, Kansas State University, Manhattan (Received for publication April 5, 1965)

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1 Contribution No. 343, Department of Zoology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station; No. 365 Zoology series in the Department of Zoology. 3 A portion of a dissertation presented by the senior author (C.F.D.) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in parasitology at Kansas State University, Manhattan. 3 Present address: Department of Zoology, Auburn University, Alabama.

and turkeys from various poultry enterprises in eastern Kansas where the majority of poultry producing counties are located. MATERIALS AND METHODS Counties and poultry enterprises studied are shown in Figure 1. Total fowl examined comprised 727 chickens (mature and immature) and 421 turkeys. The entire digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems were examined separately from most of the birds. Sometimes it was not possible to collect the entire viscera because the poultry processing plant utilized the gizzard, heart, and liver as marketable products. The intestine was placed in a pan of water, opened with an enterotome, and scraped with a large glass slide. Contents of the pan were poured onto a No. 80 mesh screen and washed until the mucus and soluble food material passed through the screen. Fat globules would not clog the fine mesh of the screen when concentrated detergent solution was mixed into the unwashed intestinal contents prior to screening. The screen was then inverted and back flushed into a clean pan. The contents of the pan was poured into large glass bowls and examined under bright illumination against a black background. This method proved effective for recovery of minute nematode larvae as well as cestode scoleces and proglottids. The ceca, crop, esophagus, and proventriculus were scraped, washed, and examined. The mucosa of the crop and esophagus was examined for the presence of Capillaria and the proventriculus was slit

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NFORMATION is limited on helminth parasites infecting chickens and turkeys in Kansas Ackert (1927) reported a 66% incidence of Heterakis gallinarum in mature chickens. Ferry (1934) reported the tapeworms Raillietina cestkillus, Hymenolepis carioca, R. tetragona, R. echinobothrida Amoebotaenia sphenoides, and Choanotaenia infundibulum from a survey of 50 chickens in Douglas county. Morehouse (1944) reported Capillaria caudinflata from chickens in Brown and Miami counties. Ackert (1956) reported that in an earlier survey of 1000 chickens from the vicinity of Manhattan 49% were infected with Ascaridia galli. Kerr (1958) reported Ascaridia dissimilis from turkeys. Surveys of poultry parasites have been made in the United States by Guberlet (1916, Nebraska), Adams et al. (1933, Texas), Wehr (1937, Washington, D. C ) , Koutz (1949, Ohio), Todd (1948, Tennessee), Edgar (1953, Alabama), and Reid (1958, Georgia). Data from these different areas and poultry enterprises are not necessarily applicable to the poultry industry in Kansas. Accordingly, this study was made to ascertain species, incidence, and number of helminths infecting chickens

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C. F. DIXON AND M. F. HANSEN

whereas Ascaridia were cleared in lactophenol for identification. In this study, unless stated otherwise, ranges of numbers are given in parentheses following absolute numbers and averages. RESULTS Helminths of Chickens Adult chickens. They were collected from 7 farm flocks comprised of 1,780 (30-400) birds in 6 counties (Fig. 1). The birds were infected with an average of 5 (4-8) species of helminths, averaging 84 worms per bird. The farm flocks had the most Heterakis per bird and the high-

——PATHOLOGY LABORATORY CHICKENS

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• —BROILERS

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• —TURKEYS

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LAYERS

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FIG. 1. Districts and poultry enterprises surveyed in Kansas.

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open and examined for the nematodes infecting the glandular tissue. The gizzard tunic was peeled and examined for the presence of gizzard worms. The heart, liver, bronchi, trachea, and reproductive organs were opened, scraped, washed, screened, and the contents examined for helminths. All helminths were tentatively identified, counted, sexed, and placed into marked vials. The cestodes were relaxed by cooling for several hours, then fixed in hot AFA and later stained with Delafield's hematoxylin. The Capillaria were cleared in glycerol and mounted on temporary slides,

HELMINTHS OF POULTRY IN KANSAS

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FIG. 2. Helminths of chickens and turkeys in Kansas. Bar graph (incidence) in percentages and in the line graph (avg. no. helminths/bird) in absolute numbers.

est incidence of cestode infection (Fig. 2). Species incidence and numbers of cestodes infecting the birds are given in Figure 6. Mctroltasthes lucida, is reported from chickens in Kansas for the first time. Amoebotacnia sphenoides and Raillietina echinobotkrida, reported earlier by Ferry (1934), were not found in the present survey. The 8 floor-layer flocks comprised of 11,825 (225-6,000) birds from 5 counties (Fig. 1) were infected with an average of 4.5 (2-9) species of helminths, averaging 62 worms per bird. They not only showed highest incidence of Heterakis infection but also highest average number of Capillaria (Fig. 2). Capillaria obsignata and C. retusa (Fig. 5) are reported for the first time from chickens in Kansas. Chickens were collected from 8 cagelayer flocks comprised of 14,852 (102-4,710) birds from 7 counties (Fig. 1). They harbored an average of 2.8 (1-5) species of helminths, averaging 7 worms per bird. These flocks had a lower incidence of helminth infection than did the farm flocks and floor-layers, but they had a higher average number of tapeworms per bird (Fig. 2). Data on helminth infection in adult

chickens (farm flocks, floor- and cage-layers) by districts in eastern Kansas are shown in Figure 3. Of the birds examined in eastern Kansas, 84.4% were infected with an average of 4 (1-9) species of helminths, averaging 61.8 worms per bird. Chickens in the NE-district carried the highest average number of Heterakis but both lowest incidence and average number of Ascaridia and cestodes. Chickens from the EC-district had the highest incidence

FIG. 3. Helminths in adult chickens in Kansas. Bar graph (incidence) is in percentage and the line graph (avg. no. helminths/bird) is in absolute numbers.

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POULTRY ENTERPRISE

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C. F. DIXON AND M. F. HANSEN

TABLE 1.—Influence of numbers of helminth species on worm burden in adult chickens Species present No. worms/bird (no.) (avg.) 1 2 3 4 5 7

23.5 58.7 101.5 247.9 366.0 88.0

Birds/group (no.) 210 104 58 15 5 2

Among adult birds average number of worms per bird progressively increased as the number of species per bird increased, except for birds infected with seven species of helminths (Table 1). Perhaps the few birds found in that group account for the inconsistency. These results support Todd (1948) who reported that immunity or resistance of the host to one species is lessened by the presence of other species of helminths. Immature chickens (broilers). The helminth survey of wire-raised broilers was made in the EC-district (Fig. 2). Two broiler flocks of 6,000 and 21,000 birds were sampled from Shawnee county. Cestodes (5.2% incidence) were the only hel-

AVG. NO. HELMINTHS / BIRD

FIG. 4. Helminths in turkeys from the central and eastern districts of Kansas. Bar graph (incidence) in percentages and the line graph (avg. no. helminths/bird) in absolute numbers.

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of Heterakis and cestodes but the lowest incidence and average number of Capillaria. In the SE-district the chickens harbored the highest incidence of Ascardia and Capillaria as well as the highest average number of Ascaridia, Capillaria, and cestodes. Birds of this district had the highest overall incidence of helminth infection as well as the highest average worm burden. Statistical analyses of the differences between ratios of incidence (.01 > P > .001) and worm burdens (P < .001) in the different enterprises and districts indicated that the type of poultry enterprise and district conditioned helminthiases in the chickens. This emphasizes that a survey of poultry parasites, to arrive at an accurate evaluation of helminthiases, must include each type of enterprise in each geographical area of a state.

minth found, thus helminthiases were negligible. The helminth survey of 7,000-23,000 floor-raised broilers was made in the NC-, NE-, and EC-districts. Of the 106 birds examined, 37.7% were infected with an average of 26.6 Ascaridia per bird. Two of the flocks were free from this nematode, whereas two flocks were 100% infected with average worm burdens of 15 and 38 per bird. No other helminths were found. Apparently, the type of management influenced the worm burden. An additional 20 chickens, 12 weeks of age, examined from a flock of 1,900 from the Kansas State University Poultry Farm were helminth-free. The birds were reared for 3 weeks in brooders and 9 weeks on the floor. Another 20 chickens, 16 weeks of age, from a flock of 2,210 revealed only one infection of 6 Heterakis. These birds had been on the range for 2 months. Pathology laboratory chickens. From 1 to 4 chickens were necropsied from each of

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14 counties (Fig. 2). They were heterogeneous in age falling into two groups; 85.5% were less than 1 year old (avg. 13 weeks), the others were older. Even though not a good statistical sample, these birds most closely approximate floor- and cagelayers in incidence of helminthiasis (Fie 2). Helminths of Turkeys The survey was made in central (SC, C and NC) and eastern (NE, EC, and SE) Kansas (Fig. 4). Turkeys were examined from commercial flocks raised on range or in confinement as well as some sent to the

pathology laboratory at Kansas State University. Commercial turkeys. No helminths were found in turkeys examined from the NCdistrict. Turkeys from the XE-district had the highest average number and incidence of Ascaridia dissimUis (Fig. 4). In examining the 18,981 specimens of this species of nematode, 85% were minute larvae, emphasizing that incidence of infection could have been grossly underestimated if those larval forms had been overlooked. Birds from SE-district had the highest incidence of H. gallinarum, Capillaria caudinflata, C. annulata and Metroliasthes

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FIG. 5. County distribution of nematodes in poultry.

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C. F. DIXON AND M. F. HANSEN

• — RAILLIETINA ° — R.

CESTICILLUS

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* — HYMENDLEPIS

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of Kansas (Fig. 2). They were heterogeneous in age, averaging 11 weeks. The percentage incidence of infection and average number of worms were markedly lower than in commercial turkeys. DISCUSSION

Most of the species of helminths in poultry found in this survey are common in the United States. However, Capillaria caudinflata, reported as occurring occasionally in chickens and turkeys in the United States, is widely distributed in Kansas poultry (Fig. 5). Metroliasthes lucida, reported as the common turkey tapeworm (Dikmans, 1945), was found in only 2 counties (Fig. 6).

- - CHOANOTAENIA

A - - METROLIASTHES CARIOCA

FIG. 6. County distribution of cestodes in poultry.

INFUNDIBULUM LUCIDA

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luclda (Fig. 4). The two species of Capillaria are reported for the first time in Kansas turkeys. Analyses of the data indicated that incidence ratios of Heterakis and Ascaridia in turkeys were not significantly different among different districts, however, differences in ratios might have been significant had a larger sample been examined from the SE-district. The differences in worm burden ratios of turkeys among districts were highly significant, indicating worm burdens in the turkeys were influenced by area sampled. Pathology laboratory turkeys. Turkeys were examined from 11 sources representing 7 counties in C-, NE-, and EC-districts

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HELMINTHS OF POULTRY IN KANSAS

SUMMARY Helminth parasites of chickens and turkeys were studied from various types of poultry enterprises. The data are based on necropsies of 727 chickens (adults and broilers) and 421 turkeys.

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Among adult chickens, farm-flocks had the highest average number of Heterakis per bird and the highest incidence of tapeworms. The highest incidence of Heterakis and the highest average number of Capillaria occurred among floor-layer flocks. Cage-layer flocks showed the fewest helminths. New host records for helminths in Kansas chickens were Metroliasthes lucida, Capillaria obsignata and C. retusa. An analysis of helminthiases by districts showed the most in enterprises in southern Kansas. This analysis showed the importance of including the type of poultry enterprise with geographical areas when making statewide surveys. As the number of species of worms increased, up to 7, the average number of worms per bird progressively increased. Wire-raised broilers harbored only a low incidence of tapeworms whereas floor-raised broilers could either all be infected with Ascardia or parasite-free depending on management practices. Helminths were most abundant in tur-

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The incidence of nematode parasites in Kansas turkeys is high in the eastern districts (NE, EC, and SE) compared with the central districts (SC, C, NC). Both eastern and central Kansas had about equal numbers of turkeys, of the same age and breed, and raised under similar range conditions. Possible factors responsible for the difference in parasitosis need careful consideration. Areas from which the turkey samples were taken (Fig. 4) present a complex set of ecological factors. The area is an ecotone between the eastern deciduous forest biome and the grassland biome of the western plains. A comparison of climatic factors shows differences between the eastern and central districts within this ecotone that could affect survival and degree of infectivity of helminth larvae and/or ova. Climographs, such as shown in Figure 7, comparing mean monthly precipitation and total monthly evaporation during the time of this study, show that eastern Kansas received a higher monthly rainfall and had a lower evaporation rate than central Kansas. Conditions of high rainfall and low evaporation provide a favorable environment for survival of infective stages of helminths (McRae, 1935; Hansen et al., 1953). Comparing results of a survey of helminths of chickens in Tennessee (Todd, 1948) with those of the present survey in Kansas, shows that a probable effect of high rainfall and low evaporation in Tennessee is to increase helminthiasis in chickens (Figs. 8, 9). The Tennessee study showed not only a greater infection per bird and higher incidence, but also a greater variety of tapeworm and nematode species than found in Kansas.

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keys raised in southern Kansas where climatic factors of precipitation versus evaporation rate were most favorable. New host records for helminths in Kansas turkeys were Capillaria caudinflata and C. annulata. The tapeworm, Metroliasthes lucida, was not commonly found at necropsy. A comparison of helminthiases of Kansas poultry with that of a southern poultry producing state (Tennessee) revealed that the problem was less pronounced in Kansas.

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REFERENCES Ackert, J. E., 1927. Some intestinal worms of chickens and their control. Proc. Third World's Poultry Congress, Ottawa, Canada, pp. 333336. Ackert, J. E., 1956. Review of research in parasitology in Kansas during the last century. Trans. Kans. Acad, of Sci., 59: 156-192. Adams, F. M., and S. W. Geiser, 1933. Helminth parasites of the chicken, Gallus domesticus, in Dallas County, Texas. Amer. Midi. Naturalist, 14: 251-257. Dikmans, G., 1945. Check list of the internal and external animal parasites of domestic animals

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FIG. 9. Nematode infections in adult chickens in two states. Bar graph shows percentage incidence and line graph average number per bird.

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University, 14 pp. McRae, A., 1935. A study of the moisture requirements of the eggs of the chicken ascarid Ascaridia galli. J. Parasitol. 21:220. Morehouse, N. F., 1944. Life cycle of Capillaria caudinftata, a nematode parasite of the common fowl. Iowa State College J. Sci. 18: 217253. Reid, W. M., 1958. Incidence of helminth and external parasites in Georgia broilers. Poultry Sci. 37: 586-591. Todd, A. C , 1948. Worm parasites of Tennessee chickens. Bull. 205. Tennessee Agric. Exp. Sta. 20 pp. Wehr, E. E., 1937. Relative abundance of crop worms in turkeys. Macroscopic differentiation of species. Vet. Med. 32: 230-233.

Effect of Cottonseed Oil on Egg Hatchability 1 " A. R. KEMMERER,2 B. W. HEYWANG,3 M. G. VAVICH2 AND E. T. SHEEHAN 2 (Received for publication April 6, 1965)

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YCLOPROPENOID fatty acids found in Sterculia joetida oil and in cottonseed oil have been reported to cause the pink discoloration phenomena in cold stored eggs (Masson et al., 1957; Shenstone and Vickery, 1956) and to disturb the ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids (Evans et al., 1961). Nordby et al. (1962) found that feeding sterculene, sterculyl ether or sterculia joetida esters, prepared from Sterculia joetida oil, also caused the pink discoloration phenomenon in eggs. Deutschman et al. (1964) obtained the same phenomena by feeding sterculene synthesized from oleic acid. That these 1

Supported in part by grant from National Cottonseed Products Association, Inc., Memphis, Tennessee. 3 Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson. 'United States Department of Agriculture, Southwest Poultry Experiment Station, A.R.S., Glendale, Arizona. 'University of Arizona, Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Ag. Biochemistry, Journal Article # 9 8 3 3/31/65.

fatty acids in Sterculia joetida oil would decrease hatchability in eggs was shown by Schneider et al. (1961). Naber and Morgan (1957) reported that crude cottonseed oil depressed hatchability. However, Kratzer et al. (1955) reported that feeding cottonseed meal in the ration of the turkey did not affect hatchability of the eggs. The results reported in this study show that feeding cottonseed oil at relatively high levels in the diet of laying hens decreased hatchability of the eggs produced, whereas levels likely to be encountered in practical type rations did not affect hatchability. EXPERIMENTAL

Two cottonseed oils free from gossypol were prepared as in previous experiments (Kemmerer et al., 1962). These oils contained approximately 0.6% cyclopropenoid fatty acid as determined by a modification (Schneider and Sheehan, 1965) of the Halphen reaction (1897). For a positive control Sterculia joetida oil containing 28.7%

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in North America. Amer. J. Vet. Research, 6: 211-241. Ferry, Q. B., 1934. Studies on Cestoda of poultry found in and around Douglas County, Kansas. Amer. Midi. Naturalist, IS: 586-597. Guberlet, J. E., 1916. Morphology of adult and larval cestodes from poultry. Trans. Amer. Micros. Soc. 35: 23-44. Hansen, M. F., R. Ooyawongse and J. E. Ack;rt, 1953. Rate of development, viability, vigor and virulence of Ascaridia galli ova cultured respectively in air and in water. Amer. Midi. Naturalist, 49: 743-750. Kerr, K. B., 1958. Notes on Ascaridia dissimilis. J. Parasitol. 44: 512-514. Koutz, F. R., 1949. Check list of parasites of domestic animals reported in Ohio. Ohio State

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