Davainea ploglottina also
called minute tape worm or chicken tapeworm, is a parasitic worm that has
chicken, gunea fowl, turkey other domestic and wild gallin aceous birds but
also pidgean as definite host
called minute tape worm or chicken tapeworm, is a parasitic worm that has
chicken, gunea fowl, turkey other domestic and wild gallin aceous birds but
also pidgean as definite host
Geographical distribution
It is found worldwide. Common in traditional
and free ranging poultry.
and free ranging poultry.
Morphology
It is a small tape worm not
larger than hmm with only 4 – 7 segments. The head (scolex) have numerous
hammer shaped hooks and suckers armed with spines and numerous hooks. The
proglottide is gravid. Each proglottide has its own reproductive organs. The
eggs are embroyonated i.e each one contains hexacentin larva with hooks.
larger than hmm with only 4 – 7 segments. The head (scolex) have numerous
hammer shaped hooks and suckers armed with spines and numerous hooks. The
proglottide is gravid. Each proglottide has its own reproductive organs. The
eggs are embroyonated i.e each one contains hexacentin larva with hooks.
Life cycle
The gravid proglottide of adult tapeworms are
shed with the birds faeces (usually one gravid proglottide per tape worm per
day). The gravid proglottide are active and motile and capable of climbing
upward on the vegetation. By mild and humid temperature the egg can remain
infective for slug and snails during
several days. The snail or slug ingest the gravid proglottide, which
release the egg after digestion, the bird on ingesting such contaminated
snail/slug, after digestion, the cystocercoids will released the young tapeworm
that attach the gut’s well of the birds. The time between infection and
shedding of the first eggs is 2 – 3 weeks. The disease caused by this parasite
called davaineaosis.
shed with the birds faeces (usually one gravid proglottide per tape worm per
day). The gravid proglottide are active and motile and capable of climbing
upward on the vegetation. By mild and humid temperature the egg can remain
infective for slug and snails during
several days. The snail or slug ingest the gravid proglottide, which
release the egg after digestion, the bird on ingesting such contaminated
snail/slug, after digestion, the cystocercoids will released the young tapeworm
that attach the gut’s well of the birds. The time between infection and
shedding of the first eggs is 2 – 3 weeks. The disease caused by this parasite
called davaineaosis.
Prevention control
1. Frequent changing of birds
bedding
bedding
2. Keeping the environment dry
3. Use of molluscides e.g
copper sulphate
copper sulphate
4. Free ranging birds should
be kept out of humid environment that can encourage the breeding of snail.
be kept out of humid environment that can encourage the breeding of snail.