Parasitic Infections of Free –Range Chickens from Golestan Province, Iran

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, intensity, and species of internal and external parasites of native fowls from Golestan Province, north of Iran. Methods: During 2007, different organs of 26 and 24 adult female native fowls collected from hu­mid parts (Gorgan, Kord Kooy, Ramian and Bandar Gaz) and dry regions (Gonbad Kavoos, and Ban­dar Torkaman) of Golestan Province, respectively were searched for parasite. Two blood smears taken from each bird were stained with Geimsa. External parasites and nematodes were preserved in 70 % alcohol containing 5% glycerin. Cestodes were fixed in 10% formalin and stained with carmine acid for further studies. Results: Fifteen species of parasites were collected from alimentary canals, lungs, feathers and subcu­ta­neous nodules as follows: Alimentary canal: Ascaridia galli (56%), Heterakis gallinarum (24%), Capil­laria anatis (4%), Cheilospirura hamulosa (4%), Raillietina tetragona (58%), R. echinobothrida (6%), and Choanotaenia infundibulum (8%); Lungs: Syngamus trachea (16%); Feathers: Monopon gallinae (40%), Menacanthus stramineus (40%), Liperus caponis (32%), Goniodes dissimilis (38%), Cuclogaster heterographus (8%), Dermanissus gallinae (20%) and subcutaneous nodules: Lami­nosioptes cysticola (6%). Conclusion: The frequency distribution of most species was low. L. cysticola is the first host and distri­bution record for Iran