-

Abstract

To investigate the parasitic infections of the geese reared in Gilan province (north of Iran) 140 geese of which 40 were under six month of age and the rest older were purchased during 1999,. Twenty one species of gastrointestinal helminthes, one species of lung worm 2 species of Eimeria and 2 species of louse were collected from the examined birds. The prevalence of parasites in different organs were as follows: Alimentary canal) Nematodes Amidostomum.anseris (73.9%), Histrichis tricolor (5.8%),Ascaridia galli (18.5%), Capillaria anatis (35.6%), C. obsignata (70%), Heterakis dispar (19.4%), H. gallinarum (20%), Trichostrongylus tenuis (30%). Trematodes: Apatemon gracilis (43.7%), Echinostoma revolutum (10.7%), Hypoderaeum conoideum (28.2%), Echinopaiyphium recurvatum (12.6%), Catatropis verrucosa (10%). Cestodes: Drepanidotaenia lanceolata (7.8%), Gastrotaenia sp. (175%), Diorchis sp. (9.7%), Sobolevicanthus
(20%), Sloyabinoparaksis (1%), Microsomacanthus passeris (2.9%), Monotestilepis sp. (1.9%), Hymenolepis sp. (4.9%), Protozoa:
Eimeria anatis (8.7%), E. anseris (8.7%). Lungworm) Syngamus
trachea (10%). External parasites: Menopon gallinae (11.7%), Lipeurus caponis (9.7%). All the parasites found in this study are reported for the first time from the geese of Iran, although Catatropis verrucosa, Drepanid.otaenia, Ga.strotaenia, Sobolevicanthus, Slayabinoparaksis, Microsomacanhus and Monotestilepis are reported for the first time from the domestic birds of Iran. Although in the present study, mixed infection with different parasites can cause the subclinical form of parasitic diseases but even single infection with A. anseries with regard to its prevalence (73.9%) and intensity (65.5 worm per infected animal) and lesions produced can cause subclinical and even clinical form of the disease. Generally speaking, parasitic infections of the geese older than six month were more sever than younger one. Regarding the immunity produced by the parasite and longer contact with infected environment, this is a normal trend. Never the lessA. galli, Eimeria anatis and E. anseris were more prevalent in younger birds and S. trachea, M gallinae, L. caponis have been only seen in young birds. Blood parasite was not founed in the examined bird.

Keywords