Abstract

Intensive guinea fowl farming is expanding in Africa, but poor management practices and infectious diseases can threaten their survival and productivity. This study investigated the causes of sporadic mortalities in a flock of experimental guinea fowls at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, Nigeria. The birds were acquired from a free-range system with a sudden onset of mortality in the flock three days after being housed together for acclimatisation. Clinical and postmortem examinations were conducted on live and dead birds. Tentative diagnoses of aspergillosis, helminthosis, and colibacillosis were made while samples were sent to the Microbiology and Parasitology laboratories for confirmatory diagnoses. Laboratory results identified Ascaridia numidae, Capillaria spp., Heterakis gallinarum, and Raillietina tetragona, a tapeworm measuring 35 cm, as well as Aspergillus spp. and Escherichia coli, as the causes of comorbidities and mortalities. High worm burdens were recorded in egg counts per gram (EPG) of faeces using the modified McMaster method, with a mean bulk egg count of 5,533 EPG (range 4,800-6,400; standard deviation 255.5 EPG). Bacterial and fungal isolates showed sensitivity to gentamicin and copper sulphate, respectively, but resistance to enrofloxacin, tylosin, and fluconazole. It was concluded from this investigation that helminthosis, bacterial, and mycotic diseases may be prevalent in guinea fowl under free-range conditions, posing significant threats to their survival when birds are acquired from a free-range system for intensive rearing. It is recommended that health screening be carried out before birds under free-range are housed under intensive management, which can lead to the congregation of a large number of birds in the same environment.

Key words: Colibacillosis, Diseases, Guinea fowls, Helminthosis, Husbandry, Mortalities, Mycoses