Journal of Helminthology

Table of Contents - 1991 - Volume 65, Issue 01  

Research Papers

The effects of age, sex and breed of chicken on susceptibility to Clinostomum complanatum (Digenea: Clinostomatidae)

A. M. N. Kalantana1, M. Arfina1 and W. A. Nizamia2 c1

a1 Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh–11451, Saudi Arabia

a2 Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh–202002, India

Abstract

Susceptibility and development of Clinostomum complanatum in the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) have been studied. The progenetic metacercariae of C. complanatum developed into ovigerous worms in 3 days in the buccal cavity of the chicken and survived only 6–7 days in this experimental host. The susceptibility is influenced by the age, sex and breed/type of the host. Both percent susceptibility and recovery of the worms decreased with increase in the age of the host. The egg laying chickens were found to be least susceptible to the infection. Mature male chickens were more susceptible than the females. The single comb white Leghorn (SCWL) was found to be susceptible while the local type (LT) and the cross breed (SCWL×LT) were not susceptible to C. complanatum. The possible reasons for these variations have been discussed.

(Accepted November 14 1990)

KEY WORDS

Correspondence:

c1 To whom all correspondence should be addressed.