Table 1.
Major parasites of broiler chickens

Parasite group Parasites Predilection site
Endoparasites Protozoa
Eimeria spp. Small intestine
Histomonas meleagridis Caeca, liver
Nematodes
Oxyspirura mansoni Eye, lacrimal duct
Syngamus trachea Trachea, lungs
Gongylonema ingluvicola Oesophagus, crop
Tetrameres spp. Proventriculus
Acuaria hamulosa Gizzard
Capillaria spp. Entire intestine
Dispharynx nasuta Erythrocytes, proventriculus
Amidostomum anseris Gizzard
Ascaridia galli Small intestine, occasionally oviduct
Cestodes
Raillietina spp. Small intestine
Ectoparasites The fowl tick
Argas persicus Skin
Mites
Dermanyssus gallinae Skin
Ornithonyssus sylviarum Skin
Cnemidocoptes mutans Skin on legs, comb and wattle
Flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea Head
Haemoparasites Leucocytozoon spp. Leucocytes, erythrocytes
Plasmodium spp. Erythrocytes
Haemoproteus spp. Erythrocytes
Aegyptinella spp. Erythrocytes