ENUMERATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF ORGANIC CHICKENS (HUBBARD REDBRO) RAISED IN THE INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL SCIENCE FARM, UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA

James Gil Z. Castasus, Noel B. Lumbo, Jorge Michael D. Dominguez, Aleck Vaughn N. Mendoza, Kyla Nichole L. Toledo, Emmanuel P. Hernandez

Abstract


Organic poultry farming offers benefits but faces challenges, particularly the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths, which are closely linked to feeding practices. This study investigated the variety and frequency of helminths in Hubbard Redbro chickens reared at the Institute of Animal Science Farm, University of the Philippines Los Baños, under two organic feeding strategies. Ten (10) chickens were randomly chosen from two flocks raised in different feeding treatments: one fed exclusively with organic feed from day 1 and the other at day 23 after an initial period on commercial feed. After 55 days, gastrointestinal analyses identified three predominant helminth species: Ascaridia sp., Heterakis sp., and Raillietina sp. Although the results are not statistically significant, that can be due to the small sample size. Chickens fed organic feed starting from day 1 showed higher mean intensity of infection of Ascaridia sp. (p=0.12) and Heterakis sp. (p=0.34), with both species having higher helminth populations recorded. In contrast, chickens transitioned to organic feeding later showed a higher average parasitic load of Raillietina sp. (p=0.44). Moreover, early organic feeding resulted in lower carcass weights that may reflect the effect of high parasite burden. These emphasize the need for improved parasite management strategies to enhance productivity and animal welfare in organic poultry farming.

Keywords


Feeding strategies, gastrointestinal helminths, Hubbard REDBRO chickens, organic poultry farming, parasite management

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adedokun SA and Olojede OC. 2019. Optimizing gastrointestinal integrity in poultry: The role of nutrients and feed additives. Front Vet Sci 5:348.

Ara I, Khan H, Syed T, and Bhat B. 2021. Prevalence and seasonal dynamics of gastrointestinal nematodes of domestic fowls (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Kashmir, India. J Adv Vet Anim Res 8(3):448-453. https://doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h533

Arsi K, Donoghue DJ, Venkitanarayanan, K, and Donoghue AM. 2019. Reducing Foodborne Pathogens in Organic Poultry: Challenges and Opportunities. In: Venkitanarayanan K, Thakur S, Rick SC eds. Food Safety in Poultry Meat Production, Switzerland, Springer Cham, pp. 25–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05011-5

Asumang P, Akoto Delali J, Wiafe F, Kamil Z, Iddrisu Balali G, Afua Dela Gobe V, Nketiah Siaw W, and Pinamang G. 2019. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in local and exotic breeds of chickens in Pankrono-Kumasi, Ghana. J Parasitol Res 2019:5746515. https://doi.10.1155/2019/5746515.

Bennett DC, Yee A, Rhee YJ, and Cheng KM. 2011. Effect of diatomaceous earth on parasite load, egg production, and egg quality of free-range organic laying hens. Poult Sci 90(7):1416-1426. https://doi:10.3382/ps.2010-01256

Berhe M, Mekibib B, Bsrat A, and Atsbaha G. 2019. Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of chicken under different management systems in Mekelle Town, Tigray Region, Ethiopia. J Vet Med 2019:1307582. https:// doi:10.1155/2019/1307582.

Bogale M, Baniya A, and DiGennaro P. 2020. Nematode identification techniques and recent advances. Plants 9(10):1260. https://doi:10.3390/plants9101260.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). 2020. The Philippine Broiler Industry Roadmap (2022-2040). Retrieved on 10 November 2025 from https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Philippine-Poultry-Broiler-Industry-Roadmap.pdf.

Franceschi N, Bauer A, Bollache L, and Rigaud T. 2008. The effects of parasite age and intensity on variability in acanthocephalan-induced behavioural manipulation. Int J Parasitol 38(10):1161-1170.

Freitas LFVB, Sakomura NK, Reis MP, Mariani AB, Lambert W, Andretta I, and Létourneau-Montminy MP. 2023. Coccidiosis infection and growth performance of broilers in experimental trials: insights from a meta-analysis including modulating factors. Poult Sci 102(11):103021.

Habibi MF, Kwakkel RP, and de Vries S. 2024. Gastrointestinal tract morphology, nutrient digestibility, and digesta mean retention time in laying hens of two different breeds fed with fine or coarse oat hulls. Poult Sci 103(12):104333.

Hauck R. 2021. Helminthiasis in Poultry. MSD Veterinary Manual. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultry/helminthiasis/helminthiasis-in-poultry.

Hauck, R. 2024. Helminthiasis in poultry. MSD Veterinary Manual. Retrieved on 30 April 2024 from https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultry/helminthiasis/helminthiasis-in-poultry.

Heyneman D. 1996. Cestodes. In: Baron S, ed. 4th ed. Medical Microbiology, Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Holt PS. 2021.Centennial Review: A revisiting of hen welfare and egg safety consequences of mandatory outdoor access for organic egg production. Poult Sci 100(12):101436.

Knutie SA, Wilkinson CL, Wu QC, Ortega CN, Rohr JR. 2017. Host resistance and tolerance of parasitic gut worms depend on resource availability. Oecologia 17;183(4):1031-1040.

Mathews A, Pasupuleti J, and Shameem U. 2024. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infections in country chicken from Visakhapatnam district Andhra Pradesh India. J Parasit Dis 48(1):95-107.

Maynard CW, Gilbert E, Yan F, Cline MA, and Dridi S. 2023. Peripheral and central impact of methionine source and level on growth performance, circulating methionine levels and metabolism in broiler chickens. Animals (Basel) 13(12):1961.

Mesa-Pineda C, Navarro-Ruíz JL, López-Osorio S, Chaparro-Gutiérrez JJ, and Gómez-Osorio LM. 2021. Chicken coccidiosis: From the parasite lifecycle to control of the disease. Front Vet Sci 8:787653.

National Organic Agriculture Program - Department of Agriculture (NOAP-DA). 2020. 2019 Annual Report. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2019-OAP- Annual-Report.pdf.

Philippine National Standard - Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards Philippine (PNS/BAFS). 2016. PNS/BAFS 07:2016: Organic Agriculture. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://bit.ly/PNSOrganic.

Philippine National Standard - Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards Philippine (PNS/BAFS). 2018. PNS/BAFS 262:2018: Free-range Chicken. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://bit.ly/PNS262FreeRange.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 2022. Chicken Annual Situation Report. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2022_Chicken%20Annual%20Situation%20Report_ v6_sign ed.pdf.

Quinn A. 2023. Organic chicken farming: a guide to sustainable poultry. Chicken raising and much more. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://chickenraising101.com/organic- chicken-farming.

Roychowdhury R, Banerjee U, Sofkova S, and Tah J. 2013. Organic farming for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture in the era of climate change OnLine J Biol Sci, 13(2):50–65.

Shifaw A, Feyera T, Sharpe B, Elliott T, Walkden-Brown SW, and Ruhnke I. 2023 Prevalence and magnitude of gastrointestinal helminth infections in cage-free laying chickens in Australia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 37:100819.

Shifaw A, Feyera T, Walkden-Brown SW, Sharpe B, Elliott T, and Ruhnke I. 2021. Global and regional prevalence of helminth infection in chickens over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Poult Sci100(5):101082.

Shohana NN, Rony SA, Ali MH, Hossain MS, Labony SS, Dey AR, Farjana T, Alam MZ, Alim MA, and Anisuzzaman. 2023. Ascaridia galli infection in chicken: Pathobiology and immunological orchestra. Immun Inflamm Dis 11(9):e1001.

Song B, Tang D, Yan, S, Fan H, Li G, Shahid MS, Mahmood T, and Guo Y. 2021. Effects of age on immune function in broiler chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 12(42):1-12.

Sutherland MA, Webster J, and Sutherland I. 2013. Animal health and welfare issues facing organic production systems. Animals (Basel) 3(4):1021-1035.

Tanveer S, Ahad S, and Chishti MZ. 2013. Morphological characterization of nematodes of the genera Capillaria, Acuaria, Amidostomum, Streptocara, Heterakis, and Ascaridia isolated from intestine and gizzard of domestic birds from different regions of the temperate Kashmir valley. J Parasit Dis 39(4):745–760.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2019, October 2. Raillietina infection. DPDx – Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern. Retrieved on 30 April 2023 from https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/raillietina/index.html.

Wernery U. 2015. Infectious diseases. In Samour J, ed. 3rd ed. Avian Medicine, Munited Kingdom: Mosby Ltd., pp. 434–452.

Ybañez RHD, Resuelo KJG, Kintanar APM, and Ybañez AP. 2018 Detection of gastrointestinal parasites in small-scale poultry layer farms in Leyte, Philippines. Vet World 11(11):1587-1591.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright © 2025 Philippine Society of Animal Science