A Preliminary Survey on Gastrointestinal Parasites of Domestic Ducks in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran

BACKGROUND: Despite ducks being birds resistant to infection, the favorable habitat of ducks such as subtropical climate or stagnant water is also a perfect place for survival of the parasites. METHODS: This study was conducted from Dec 2014 to Apr 2015 to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of domestic ducks in Ahvaz and environs, southwest of Iran. Overall, 41 fresh fecal samples were collected and prepared using formol-ether concentration, modified Ziehl-Neelsen, sheather`s floatation and zinc sulfate sedimentation methods. Light microscopic morphometry was used for identification of helminth eggs and oocysts. RESULTS: 60.97% of ducks were infected with three different nematodes and/or four protozoan parasites. The identified nematodes were Capillaria sp., (50%) Subulura spp. (16.66%) and Echinuria spp. (33.33%). The protozoan oocystes were Cryptosporidium spp. (50%) and coccidian species (%58.33) and included Wenionella philiplevinei, Tyzerria spp. and Isospora. mandari. Mixed infection with two or more parasites was common. Twenty (80%) had single, four (16%) double and one (4%) triple infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of coccidian infection in domestic ducks of Iran. Further studies will be necessary on epidemiology and pathogenicity of the parasitic infections in ducks of this area.