Advances in understanding parasite infections of poultry: focus on protozoa and the red mite

Blake, Damer; Liebhart, Dieter

Abstract

A wide range of parasites can infect poultry, including multiple protozoans, cestodes, nematodes, trematodes and arthropods. As the global chicken population undergoes dramatic expansion, production systems are increasingly moving towards drug-free and/or extensive systems in much of Europe and North America, as well as greater intensification in many tropical regions, posing a series of new challenges to pathogen control. Parasites such as Ascaridia galli, Capillaria obsignata and Heterakis gallinarum, Davainea proglottina and Raillietina cesticullus, and a range of mites and other ectoparasites are returning to significance. Others, such as the Eimeria species, remain consistently challenging. Changes in legislation and husbandry systems are driving increased problems with Histomonas meleagridis, while genetic resistance to existing control measures is exacerbating difficulties with parasites such as Dermanyssus gallinae. Increased parasite occurrence affects the performance and welfare of poultry production. Here, we focus on three of the most widespread and economically relevant parasites, outlining current understanding and introducing recent advances with implications for detection, control and prevention.

Citation

Blake, D., & Liebhart, D. (2022). Advances in understanding parasite infections of poultry: focus on protozoa and the red mite. . https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2022.0104.03

• Publication Date: Sep 12, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2022
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2022.0104.03