Molecular identification of helminth parasites of the Heterakidae and Ascarididae families of free-ranging chickens from selected rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Free-range chickens are predisposed to diverse parasitic infections during scavenging. Accurate identification of these parasites using morphological characters has been a challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to identify nematodes from the Heterakidae and Ascarididae family infecting free-ranging chickens from KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa using a combination of morphological and molecular techniques. Forty-two free-ranging adult indigenous chickens were purchased from randomly selected households in Shongweni (n=12), Umzinto (n=10), Gingindlovu (n=10) and Ozwathini (n=10) rural villages and examined for nematodes of the Heterakidae and Ascarididae family. Collected specimen were identified morphologically and confirmed using mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal markers. Results

SUBMITTER: Mlondo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9264027 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature