Abstract

Native turkeys kept as domestic bird in rural environments can be infected with bacterial, viral and parasitic agents. Parasites affect health and production of turkeys and cause economic loss. Capillaria spp. and Heterakis spp. are the major helminths reported to be highly pathogenic for turkeys in both deep-litter systems and free-range systems. The most important role of H. gallinarum is its capability of transferring the protozoan Histomonas meleagridis, responsible for infectious enterohepatitis in fowls. Hence the characterisation of species is necessary to adopt proper management and control measures. The present report documents the morphological identification of nematodes collected during postmortem examination of turkeys in a small holder farm at Thrissur. A markedly dilated caecum with severe catarrhal exudates was observed. The examination of intestinal contents revealed parasitic ova along with adult worms. The recovered adult worms were identified as Baruscapillaria obsignata and Heterakis gallinarum. Faecal sample examination of live birds in the farm also revealed mixed infections. The birds with infection were advised treatment with pyrantel pamoate at a dose rate of 7 mg/kg per orally once. 

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