On Sterilizing Land Against Poultry Parasites

Abstract

Tests have been made with methyl bromide to investigate its efficiency in destroying infective stages of some helminth and protozoan parasites of poultry and game birds. It appears to have an immediate strong lethal action against ova of the common nematode parasites and against oocysts of Eimeria tenella. Its efficiency against ova of Choanotaenia infundibulum was not definitely proved. When used in the field, it penetrates soil to a depth of several inches, and in so doing destroys both ova and many invertebrates known to be vectors of poultry parasites. Land which has been treated remained quite free from parasitic infection for many months but gradually became re-infested. Wild birds were probably the agents for they carry ova accidentally on their feet and in the gut.