Importance of Parasitological Screening in Extensive Poultry Farming Based on Organic Production

Timely and valid diagnostic of parasitic diseases are prerequisites for profitable traditional poultry breeding, which enables adequate prophylaxis and effective therapy. This research is retrospective of the prevalence of endoparasites in 880 hens, 291 ducks, 171 geese and 302 turkeys in extensive poultry breeding in the Republic of Serbia.

Qualitative parasitological examination was done by conventional gravitational flotation method and sedimentation method. In rare cases of animal death, an autopsy was performed.

In the period from 2012 to 2017, in 12 examined localities in the Republic of Serbia, single or mixed infections with endoparasites Eimeria spp., Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum, Capillaria contorta, Amidostomum anseris and Syngamus trachea were diagnosed. The highest prevalence of ascaridiosis was detected in hens (15.69-24.05%), trichostrongylidosis in ducks (20.53-30.19%), heterakiosis (20.89- 25.86%) and capillariosis (20.68-26.08%) in geese, and syngamosis (23.39%) and capillariosis (14.28- 24.17%) in turkeys. Endoparasites were the most prevalent in hens in south Serbia (63.21%), in ducks in central Serbia (54.71%) and in geese (46.55%) and turkeys (58.24%) in north Serbia. Among mixed infections predominant was polyparasitism of Heterakis spp. and Capillaria spp.

An epizootiological and clinical diagnostic approach based on the results of parasitological screening is very important from the aspect of organic poultry farming.