Heterakis gallinarum infection of turkeys is worldwide distributed causing severe economic losses. The current study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Heterakis gallinarum in Zagazig city, Sharkia province and El-Salam Abattoir, Cairo Province with description of the morphological & morphometric characterization between adult and juvenile stages. A total of 90 intestines of domestic turkeys (Meleagris Gallopavo) (57 samples from Zagazig city at Sharkia province and 33 samples from El-Salam Abattoir at Cairo Province) were examined during the period from October, 2022 till January, 2024 for Heterakis gallinarum infection. The overall prevalence of the infection was 36.66%. The positivity reached 57.89% & 0% for the examined samples in Zagazig city, Sharkia province and El-Salam Abattoir, Cairo Province respectively. The intensity of infection was 1-73 worms per infected bird with a mean of 22 worms. The different morphological & morphometric characterization between adult and juvenile stages of Heterakis gallinarum were illustrated in the current study. Histopathological findings revealed thickened mucosal layer with necrotic surface epithelium, intense leukocytic infiltrat & chronic nodular typhlitis. Sections from infected ceca showed larval migratory tract within deep submucosal layer surrounded by fibrotic capsule. Our study concluded the characteristic morphological differential features of Heterakis gallinarum male and female adult & juvenile stages.
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