Seasonal Dynamics of Haemoparasites in Guinea Fowl and Traditional Chickens Processed at Korhogo Poultry Slaughterhouse in Northern Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Blood parasites constitute a large group of pathogens that can affect the productivity and health of many animal species, including poultry. The objective of this study was to determine the seasonal prevalence of haemoparasites in chickens and guinea fowl reared in traditional farms and slaughtered at the poultry market in Korhogo. A total of 280 blood smears were collected, including 140 from chickens and 140 from guinea fowl, randomly selected during both the dry and rainy seasons. The smears were stained with GIEMSA and examined under a light microscope. Microscopic examination revelead five genera of haemoparasites in these poultry species: Aegyptianella, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Anaplasma. Parasites of the genus Anaplasma significantly infested chickens (15.71%) compared to guinea fowl (1.43%). For the other haemoparasites, infestation rates did not vary significantly between host species. However, all poultry species studied were parasitized in both seasons. In chickens, the prevalence of Haemoproteus was significantly higher during the rainy season (22.86%) compared to the dry season (11.43%). Conversely, in guinea fowl, only Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. showed higher infestation rates in the dry season than in the rainy season. Mixed infections were frequently observed in both poultry species. During the dry season, the most common co-infection in chickens was Aegyptianella-Haemoproteus (11.43%), while in guinea fowl, the predominant co-infection was Aegyptianella-Plasmodium (20%). Mixed infections occurred in both species during both the dry and rainy seasons. These findings highlight the widespread prevalence of haemoparasites in domestic poultry under traditional farming systems. Etablishing appropriate medical prophylaxis programs based on these results could help reduce the impact of haemoparasite infections on the productivity of traditional poultry farming.