Detection and prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. in Local chicken breeds in Al Muthanna province of Iraq

Leucocytozoon species are avian haemoparasites with economic impacts on poultry production. The present study investigates the presence of Leucocytozoon in chickens of Al Muthanna province, Iraq. Eighty one blood samples were collected from chickens in Samawah, Rumaitha, Warkaa, and Kidhre regions to examine the prevalence of Leucocytozoon. An infection rate of 6.1% was found among chicken breeds. The study highlighted that the main symptoms of infection were decreased egg production, anemia, and loss of appetite. Notably, infection was more prevalent in the Rumaitha, Khidr and Samawah regions, while no cases were reported in Warka. Treatment methods included primaquine and pyrimethamine alongside care to manage the condition effectively. It is important to mention that the observed prevalence rate in chickens was lower compared to studies on birds in Iraq, where an overall blood parasite prevalence of 15% was documented. This difference could be attributed to factors like habitat variations, vector presence, or differing susceptibility among bird species. Our suggestion for future work can be the application of new programs for diagnosing and controlling parasites in chickens.