Prevalence of the enteric parasites of ducks from Behera governorate, Egypt

Abstract

This study of enteric parasites of ducks was undertaken to determine their prevalence and the relationships between their prevalence and the age and breed of ducks in the Behera governorate, Egypt. A total of 110 ducks of different ages and breeds were examined. The prevalence of helminths was 4.54% from which the prevalence of nematode, cestode, and trematode infections was 2.72%, 3.63%, and 1.81%, respectively. The recovered nematodes were Ascaridia galli (0.9%) and Heterakis gallinarum (1.81%). The reported trematodes were Echinoparyphium recurvatum (0.9%) and Echinoparyphium paraulum (1.81%). The new reported cestodes were Cladogynia phoeniconaiadis (3.63%), Echinolepis carioca (3.63%), and Baerfainia anoplocephaloides (3.63%). The helminths infections were only recorded in Native (5%) and White Peckin (11.11%) and only in the 8-12-months age group. The prevalence of Entamoeba gallinarum was 0.9% and only recorded in one White Peckin of 8-12-months age group. Cryptosporidium species could not be detected in the examined ducks. This study presented the first record of three new cestodes in ducks from Egypt.