On the Interaction between Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia galli, “Blackhead” and the Chicken

Abstract

Measured dosages of larvated eggs of the caecal nematode, Heterakis gallinarum and the small intestinal nematode, Ascaridia galli were fed to domestic chickens, in order to study the distribution of the numbers of worms developing and the influence on the worms and the chicks of the treatments in the experiments. These treatments are summarised in Table 1, p. 110.Chronic respiratory disease, accidentally acquired by the groups of chicks in varying degrees appeared to have no influence on the course of the worm infections and the ensuing blackhead (Table 2, p. 112).Following ingestion of eggs of Heterakis, blackhead occurred in three of four groups of chicks, apparently in varying degrees, possibly related to the size of the egg dosage and to differences in susceptibility to Heterakis (Table 1, p. 110). The chicks inthe group which did not contract blackhead were considerably older than those of the other groups.