Investigation of Avian Malaria Parasites of Domestic Birds in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

This study assessed the presence of avian malaria parasites in thin blood smears stained with Giemsa. A total of 109 poultry birds were examined out of which 49 were chicken, 20 were pigeons, 20 were turkeys and 20 were ducks. The poultry subjects comprised 45 males and 56 females. Malaria parasites were observed in 18 (16.5%) of these animals. Three species of Plasmodium were observed among the poultry subjects, which are: Plasmodium gallinaceum in the chicken, Plasmodium relictum in the pigeon and Plasmodium durae both in the turkey and the duck. Pigeon had the highest rate of parasitaemia 6 (30%), followed by turkey 5 (25%), duck 3 (15%) and the least in the chicken 4 (8.2%). Out of the 45 male and 56 female birds examined, infection rates were 8 (17.8%) and 10 (17.9%) respectively. Both adult and young birds had the same infection rate 9 (8.3%). Infection rates did not show any significant difference (P<0.05) between age and sex of the poultry subjects. Of the 109 birds sampled, 48 (44%) were sampled in Obukpa and 61 (56%) in Nsukka town out of which 10 (20.8%) were infected in Obukpa and 8 (13.1%) in Nsukka.