Prevalence and scanning electron microscope of some parasites infecting domesticated and migratory quails from Edko and Rashid districts, El-Behera governorate, Egypt

Quails have many advantages over other poultry species. Its meat has achieved great popularity as an excellent source of protein and other important nutrients. However, there are some limitations to quails production. One of them is the susceptibility to parasitic diseases that cause severe economic losses. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the infection rate and morphology of parasites infecting quails in El-Behera governorate, Egypt. 100 quails (50 migratory, Coturnix coturnix japonica and 50 domesticated quails) were collected. The gastrointestinal tracts of each bird were examined to collect helminths. Fecal materials were examined by direct and flotation methods to detect any coccidian species. The results showed that the total percentage of infection with parasites was 55%. The prevalence of parasitic infection in migratory and domesticated quails was 40% and 70%, respectively. Two species of helminths were recorded, Raillitina tetragona and Heterakis gallinarum with a prevalence of 87.5% and 22.22%, respectively. The morphology of helminths was described using a scanning electron microscope. Eimeria bateri, Eimeria tsunodai, and Eimeria uzura were among the protozoa identified. The histopathological changes in infected tissue with Eimeria species were recorded. In conclusion, this study presented the parasites’ prevalence, morphology, and histopathological changes in infected tissue with Eimeria species in examined domesticated and migratory quails.