Occurrence of enteric parasites in household and free range ducks at Hakaluki and Tanguar haor of Sylhet division, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh has the third largest duck population in the world with the stocks of 52.24 million. Duck rearing has potential to give maximum return with minimum investments. This study of enteric parasites of ducks was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and relationships between prevalence and the age, breed of ducks at Hakaluki and Tanguar haor of Sylhet division, Bangladesh. A total of 600 fecal samples of ducks of different ages and breeds were collected and examined using standard examination techniques includes flotation, sedimentation and direct smear under microscopy. The prevalence of helminths was found to be 48.33% (290) from which the prevalence of nematode, cestode, and trematode infections were 39.67% (238), 3.33% (20) and 9.33% (56) respectively. The nematodes identified include Capillaria spp., Ascaridia galli, and Amidostomum anseris and Tetrameres spp. The reported trematode and cestode were Prosthogonimus spp. and Hymenolepis spp. respectively. The helminths infections were recorded in Muscovy 77.78% (7), Deshi Pati Duck 52.15% (182) and Khaki Campbell 41.74% (101) were more in the age group of more than 6 to 24 months. The seasonal variation of helminths infection were observed and recorded in three different seasons. The highest rate of infection was observed in monsoon season 52.5% (105) followed by summer 50% (100) and winter season 42.5% (85). The present study suggests that age, breed of ducks and seasons of the year influence the enteric parasitic infection to a greater extend in the duck in Hakaluki and Tanguar haor of Sylhet division, Bangladesh.