PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) PARASITES ON POULTRY FARMS IN IDO, AKINYELE AND OLUYOLE LOCALGOVERNMENT AREAS (LGAS) OF OYO STATE

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites significantly hinder poultry production, leading to economic losses from reduced productivity, poorer feed conversion rates, and inadequate weight gain. They cause issues such as decreased egg production, catarrh, anorexia, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, emaciation, anemia, weakness, paralysis, poor feathering, and even death. This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites on poultry farms across Ido, Akinyele, and Oluyole Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 97 fecal samples were randomly collected from broilers and layers of different age groups and analyzed using centrifugal flotation technique at the Veterinary Parasitology Laboratory, FUNAAB. Results revealed that 69.1% of birds were infected with one or more parasites. The most common parasite identified was Eimeria spp. (39.2%), followed by Heterakis spp. (10.3%) and Ascaridia spp. (8.2%). Mixed infections were also observed. Although higher prevalence was recorded in younger birds and broilers, statistical analysis showed no significant association between prevalence, bird type, or age. These findings highlight that environmental conditions and management practices play a major role in sustaining GI parasitism on poultry farms. It is recommended that farmers adopt strict biosecurity, routine deworming, and regular veterinary supervision to minimize infection risks and economic losses.