This literature review summarizes available data on infection with the parasitic roundworm, Ascaridia galli, as a cause of disease in poultry, including the consequences of a conversion to alternative production systems. Ascaridia galli has a direct life cycle with resistant eggs that survive and are easily spread in the environment, especially in systems with bedding materials where the faecal contact is high. The infection is usually subclinical but depending on the infection dose, the symptoms range from weight loss and diarrhea to mortality. Factors such as the feed composition and genetic variation among different hybrids clearly affect the establishment rate of the infection. Ascaridia galli will probably become an increasing problem, with a shift from the traditional battery cages to alternative systems where the risk of re-infection is high.

This literature review summarizes available data on infection with the parasitic roundworm, Ascaridia galli, as a cause of disease in poultry, including the consequences of a conversion to alternative production systems. Ascaridia galli has a direct life cycle with resistant eggs that survive and are easily spread in the environment, especially in systems with bedding materials where the faecal contact is high. The infection is usually subclinical but depending on the infection dose, the symptoms range from weight loss and diarrhea to mortality. Factors such as the feed composition and genetic variation among different hybrids clearly affect the establishment rate of the infection. Ascaridia galli will probably become an increasing problem, with a shift from the traditional battery cages to alternative systems where the risk of re-infection is high.

I studien undersöktes effekten av avmaskningsmedlet flubendazol (Verminator®) mot tamhönans spolmask Ascaridia galli. Undersökningen genomfördes i en flock med frigående värphöns på en kommersiell anläggning i mellersta Sverige. Besättningen hölls inomhus i ett hus med värpreden i två våningsplan och ströbädd. Flocken konstaterades vara monospecifikt infekterad med A. galli före försöksstart med träckprovsundersökning och PCR.

In the report parasites in the gastrointestinal tract and easily visible external symptoms of disease in capercaillie, (Tetrao urogallus), was taken into account. The study was based on results from the examination of 62 fresh faecal samples, collected in spring 2003, and postmortem examination of 22 frozen birds that were collected between 1999 and 2003. All of the samples principally were from the north of Sweden. In total, 4 species of parasites, but no significant symptoms of disease were found. In the faeces low levels eggs of the roundworms Capillaria spp. (125 epg) and Ascaridia spp.