Histopathological Changes in the Intestine of Domestic

Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Naturally Infected with

the Cestode Cotugnia sp. in Basrah, Southern Iraq

Dawood S. Mahdi1*, Baydaa F. Swadi1 & Mahdi M. Thuwaini2

1 College of Health & Medical Technology, Southern Technical

University, Basrah, Iraq 2 College of Nursing, Thi-Qar University, Nasiriya, Iraq

*Corresponding author: dr.dawds@stu.edu.iq

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to investigate the

histopathological changes in the intestine of the domestic chickens Gallus

gallus domesticus that infected with the cestode Cotugnia sp. A report on

identification of this parasite from a chicken is placed on record. Twenty-

five fowls obtained from a local market in Basrah city were examined, to

find out the histopathological effects of Cotugnia sp. The present study

focuses on the histopathological changes in the intestine, which was

naturally infected with the cestoda Cotugnia sp. The histopathological

changes showed degeneration and sloughing of the epithelial lining of

intestine mucosa, destruction, degeneration and atrophy of villi.

Moreover, there were desquamations of epithelium, destructions of

secretary glands, infiltration of inflammatory cells, congestion of blood

vessels, hypertrophy of intestine glands and occurrence of bundles of

fibrosis in longitudinal section of damaged villi. The present study

indicated a state of grave problems facing the chickens.

Keywords: Cotugnia sp., Histopathology, Intestine, Chickens, Basrah.

Introduction

Chickens play an important role in the purveyance of animal protein. Both

poultry meat and eggs are affordable sources and are directly associated with

the rural economic situation of Iraq (Allouse, 1961). Endoparasites affect the

intestine and cause nodules and severe enteritis, thus impairing the absorbing

power of intestine for nutrients and vitamins from the host (Hayat & Hayat,

1983). Borghare et al. (2009) indicated that this infection leads to loss in body

weight, delay growth, reduced egg production, weakened body resistance and

even death.

The genus Cotugnia was erected by Diamare in 1893, with its type species

Cotugnia digonopora from Gallus gallus dometicus (Shukla & Bhavare,

Vol. 2 (1): 12-21, 2018

Received Aug. 10, 2017, accepted Nov. 6, 2017

13 Mahdi et al.

2012). So far, 14 species of Cotugnia were added to this genus (Global

Cestode Database, 2017).

The parasitic infection of chicken causes loss of their economic value.

Domestic chickens facilitate the parasite life cycle with intermediate hosts

such earthworms, beetles, flies, ants, or grasshoppers (Permin & Hansen,

2003). Bhowmik & Sinha (1983) showed that cestodes can cause most of

lesions including nodules formation in intestinal mucosa, inflammation,

congestion and pin point haemorrhages.

The parasitic disease reduces the productivity of rural poultry. Even

though, parasitic diseases are among the major factors determinining the

decrease in productivity of chickens and are often neglected due to rarely

lethal effect (Alemu, 1985; Sonaiya, 1990).

Many researchers referred to over 1400 species of cestodes that have been

described from wild and domestic birds. Many species of parasites may

display necropsy assay of digestive canal or other internal organs of poultry.

Large sized cestodes block the intestine of infected birds and thus affecting

the health of the bird. Knowing species plays a major role in giving direction

to control measures toward removing the intermediate host, by exploring the

life cycle (Shameem et al., 2010).

Helimnthiasis is considered to be an important problem of local chickens

and helminth parasites were incriminated as major causes of health

deterioration and loss of productivity in different parts of Ethiopia (Abebe et

al., 1997; Eshetu et al., 2001). The commonest species of Cotugnia in

domestic fowls, ducks and pigeons are C. digonopora, C. brotogerys and C.

fastigata. These cestodes are of low pathogenic significance but heavy

infections may affect the health of the bird. The life history of known species

of Cotugnia is fully elucidated. Infection is acquired through the ingestion of

infected intermediate hosts such as earthworms, grasshoppers, flies, ants or

beetles (Taylor et al., 2007)

Based on such brief presentation, due to paucity of information regarding

of these parasites and their histopathological effects in chickens of Iraq,

which are naturally infected with Cotugnia sp. in Basrah province, the present

study was carried out to highlight these phenomena.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-five domestic chickens; G. gallus domesticus were randomly collected

from a local market in Basrah city. All chicken were examined immediately

upon reaching the laboratory of parasitology in the College of Health and

Medical Technology, Southern Technical University during the period from

June 2016 to March 2017.

A sample of 25 chickens was randomly selected from a local market in

Basrah city to be examined. The chickens examined did not exhibit any

Histopathological changes in the intestine of domestic chickens 14

symptoms of the dersease (apparently healthy). The small and large intestines

were removed and opened carefully by scissor to diagnose the parasites.

Small pieces of infected small intestines were cut and transferred to 10%

formalin for fixation. Paraffin sections were made by dehydration using

graduate ethanol alcohol (50%, 70%, 90% and 100%) and cleared later by

Xylene, then embedded in paraffin to make blocks. Histological paraffin

blocks were cut by microtome into sections of 5 µm, stained with

hematoxylin and eosin and then mounted in DPX (Vacca, 1985). The

prepared slides were examined under 40X objective to identify the

histopathological changes in the target organs.

Results

The results showed that Cotugnia sp. in the intestine of infected chicken

(Figure 1) affects the tissue layers of the digestive tract. Effects were varied

and distributed among the four layers of the gastrointestinal tract: epithelial

layer, lamina propria, external muscle layer and serosa layer. The main

effects of the parasite are:

- Congestion of blood vessel in the lamina propria and external layer of

muscle and appearance of packages of fibrosis in connective tissues of

lamina propria in villus (Figures 2 and 3).

- Hypertrophy of some intestinal glands and expansion of their lumen

(Figure 4).

- Expansion of blood vessels and necrotic tissue in some damaged areas

of villi (Figure 5).

- Appearance of bundles of fibrosis in longitudinal section of damaged

villi (Figure 6) as well as metaplasia of epithelial tissue of villi and

necrosis in some parts of them (Figure 7).

- Other sections showed bundles of fibrosis in villi, metaplasia of lining

epithelial tissue and expansion of blood vessels (Figure 8).

Discussion

Cestodiasis is the most important disease of different species of poultry

(Dranzoa et al., 1999). It dilates the intestine in heavy infection causing

pathological changes like, nodule and severe enteritis. The resultant situation

leads to loss of body weight, retarded growth, reduced egg production,

weakened body resistance and sometime death (Hayat & Hayat, 1983). The

available information on Cotugnia sp. from birds in Iraq and particularly in

Basrah city is scarce (Mustafa, 1984; Al-Emarah & Al-Azizz, 2016).

Hungerford (1969) found that the parasites cause damage to the host like

injuries and metabolic consequences affecting enzymes and hormones of the

host or despoil part of their food and this negative influence does not stop at

this level but extend further.

15 Mahdi et al.

The present study showed that the occurrence of inflammatory cells of

lamina propria of vilii and the infected chicken with Cotugnia sp. affects the

textile layers of the small intestine. The effects were varied and distributed

among the four layers of the intestine.

One of the most common effects of the parasite are the congestion of

blood vessel in the lamina propria and external layer of muscle and

appearance of packages of fibrosis in connective tissue of lamina propria in

villi. The results showed several changes due the infection including:

- Hypertrophy of some intestinal glands and expansion of lumen.

- Expansion of blood vessels, necrotic tissue in some damaged area of

villi.

- Appearance of bundles of fibrosis in longitudinal section of damaged

villi as well as metaplasia of epithelial tissue of villi and few necrosis

areas.

- Appearance of bundles of fibrosis in villi, metaplasia of lining

epithelial tissue.

- Expansion of blood vessel.

- Bundles of fibrosis in lamina propria and detachment of epithelial

tissue of villi.

These results are due to a host immune defense against the parasites as an

antigen. These findings were also observed by Hungerford (1969) and

Mustafa (1984), where intestine has been displayed with reactive change of

gland and mixed inflammatory cells and infiltration lymphocytes with

degenerative cell (necrosis).

The chickens investigated in the present study were of variable size and

have no apparent symptoms of Cotugnia sp. infection, yet the changes

observed seem to be similar to those identified in the study of Mustafa (1984)

in which the pathological effects are based on the size of the parasites and the

cestode in the intestine caused necrosis, destruction of intestinal tissues, villus

atrophy and inflammatory cells aggregation.

Moreover, the results revealed that the histopathological effects, which

were observed in the intestine and the intestinal mucosa empasized the

occurrence of inflammatory lesions and focal hemorrhages caused by the

attachment of the parasites. Adang et al. (2010) reported that in many cases,

the intestinal mucosa also reveals inflammatory lesions and focal

hemorrhages caused by the parasites. On the other hand, the findings obtained

in the present study are in accordance with the histopathology of some

internal organs indicated by Lapage (1956) and Scott (1980) on birds

(including chickens) naturally infected with different species of internal

parasites. In conclusion, the prevalence of different parasites in poultry is

somewhat different from domestic chickens in the same area. Parasite

infection could have some histopathological effects on intestine tissues.

Histopathological changes in the intestine of domestic chickens 16

Moreover, the Cotugnia sp. needs further research to ascertain any

histopathological effects of other tapeworms or nematode infection on the

vital organs to confirm the findings of the present study.

Figure 1a: Scolex of Cotugnia sp. illustrates four cup-shaped suckers, b: Few

segments of the worm (100X) staining with Semichon's acid carmine.

Figure 2: Cross section of chicken intestine shows the congestion of blood vessel

in the lamina propria and external layer of muscle ( ). (400X). H & E

stain.

17 Mahdi et al.

Figure 3: Cross section of chicken intestine shows packages of fibrosis ( ) in

connective tissue of lamina propria in villi. (400X). H & E stain.

Figure 4: Cross section of chicken intestine shows bundles of fibrosis in L.S. of

damaged villi ( ) (400X). H & E stain.

Histopathological changes in the intestine of domestic chickens 18

Figure 5: Cross section in the chicken intestine shows hypertrophy of some

intestinal glands ( ) and expansion of its lumen ( ). (400X) H &

E stain.

Figure 6: Cross section in intestine of chicken shows the expansion of blood

vessels ( ) and necrotic tissue ( ) in some damaged areas of villi.

(400X) H & E stain.

19 Mahdi et al.

Figure 7: Cross section of intestine of chicken shows metaplasia of epithelial

tissue of villi ( ) and necrosis parts of it ( ). (400X) H & E stain.

Figure 8: Cross section of chicken intestine shows expansion of blood vessel

( ), bundles of fibrosis in lamina propria ( ) and detachment of

epithelial tissue of villi ( ). (400X). H & E stain.

Histopathological changes in the intestine of domestic chickens 20

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