DISTRIBUTION OF HELMINTHS IN DOMESTIC CHICKENS GALLUS GALLUS DOMESTICUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN PRIVATE HOLDINGS OF ODESA REGION (UKRAINE)

Introduction. Helminthiasis of birds has always been the most serious obstacle to the development of poultry farming, as it causes significant losses. Comprehensive protection of farm birds from parasitic diseases is epizootological monitoring, the purpose of which is to obtain and analyze data on the distribution of ecto- and endoparasites. The geographical location of the Odesa region contributes to the concentration of a multimillion-strong population of migratory birds from different parts of the world on its territory in the spring-summer period, which contributes to the introduction of helminthiasis pathogens. Many species of parasites are common to both wild and domestic gallinaceous birds. Helminths are integral components of the ecosystem and often act as a stabilizing factor due to their influence on the dynamics of the population of both intermediate and final hosts. Despite the large number of reports on helminthiasis of chickens, their distribution area and species composition in the South of Ukraine remain insufficiently studied. The aim of the work was to study the distribution of helminths in domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in private farms of the Odesa region (Ukraine). Methods. The material for the work was our own collections of helminths, which were obtained from helminthological dissections of domestic chickens Gallus gallus domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758), belonging to the order Galliformes). A survey of large, medium and small farms with different technologies of keeping birds (with floor and free-range housing systems) was conducted. In total, 30 specimens of birds were examined by the method of incomplete helminthological dissection. Most of the material was collected in the spring-summer period in 2022-2023. Birds were identified by determinants and atlases. Fresh material was subjected to dissection. Processing of helminths before determining and studying their morphology was carried out according to generally accepted methods. Main results. Among 30 individuals of domestic chicken Gallus gallusdomesticus, 5 species of helminths were found, which belong to the types Nematoda and Plathelminthes, two classes Cestoda and Chromadorea, 4 families (Hymenolepididae, Davaineidae, Heterakidae, Ascariididae) and 5 genera (Echinolepis, Raillietina, Davainea, Heterakis, Ascaridia). The most represented were helminths of the species Raillietina echinobothrida – 40% and Ascaridia galli – 35%. The extensiveness of infection with helminths in domestic chickens was 56.6%. The dominant parasite fauna in domestic birds is the cestode fauna – 36.7%. The infection rate of birds by sex was analysed, with the degree of infection in females being 65.2% and in males – 28.5%. It was found that the degree of infection of birds with a free-range system of maintenance is significantly higher (66.7%) than with a floor system (33.3%).