Preliminary Qualitative Evaluation of the Anatomical Structures for Vocalization in the Chicken (Gallus gallus domestica)

The anatomical structure of phonation in the domestic chicken Gallus gallus (red jungle fowl, forma domestica) of both sexes was studied to determine sex variations in structures. Ten (10) birds, involving 5 males and 5 females were obtained from a local market for student demonstrations and used for this study. Tracheal rings were observed to be made of circular cartilages numbering thirty and above with the distal most (1/5) tracheal rings narrowed, calcified and fused as the tympanum making part of the Syrinx. The rings become calcified and somewhat collapsed through the bronchial bifurcations. When squeezed, the trachea collapsed completely between fingers but could at releasing the fingers be raised up due to elastic components separating the rings from one another. Other structures involved in vocalization includes straps of muscles. Male structures involved in respiration and vocalization were well formed compared to those of the female. Both tracheobronchialis lateralis and ventralis muscles were thicker than those of the female. Male tracheobronchialis ventralis and dorsalis muscles were well formed and spindle shaped. However, the female tracheobronchialis muscles were seen to be wider compared to the male. The vocal organs (voice box) were seen to be arbitrarily triangular in structure at the bifurcation of the trachea in both sexes. The male Syringeal walls were thinner and were seen to have marked inter Pessula space. The Pessulus mark an abrupt change from the circular trachea to strongly elliptical entrances to the bronchi. It was concluded that the differences in the thinness of syringeal walls coupled with differences between the males and females in other tracheal muscles might be responsible for the stronger vocalization in the male.

Helminths of domestic and wild chicken birds (Aves: Galliformes) of Uzbekistan

The purpose of the research is studying existing fauna and ecology of Galliform helminths in biogeocenoses of Uzbekistan.Materials and methods. Parasitic worms were collected from chicken-like birds of the terrestrial cenoses of Karakalpakstan and North-eastern Uzbekistan. Birds were studied in all seasons of 2018–2020. Wild birds – Himalayan hen, keklik, grey partridge, quail and pheasant, were hunted by local hunters during hunting seasons, while domestic birds - chickens, turkeys and guinea fowls were uncovered from different types of poultry farms. The study of birds was carried out by well-known methods. It was examined 913 wild and 755 domestic chicken-like animals. The detected cestodes and trematodes were fixed in 70% alcohol, and the nematodes were fixed in Barbagallo liquid. The determination of helminth species was carried out according to the well-known guidelines of domestic and foreign authors.Results and discussion. We found that helminthoses were widespread among representatives of Galliformes in Uzbekistan. Total helminth infections in domestic and wild Galliformes were 50.5%. In infected birds, 44 helminth species were identified, among which 10 species were cestodes, 12 species were trematodes and 22 species were nematodes. Helminth species diversity was the most extensive in the domestic chicken (36 species), turkey (21), and partridge (20). For the first time for the helminth fauna in Galliformes in Uzbekistan, we identified 3 trematode species – Brachylaema fuscatus, Collyriclum faba and Echinostoma miyagawai, and 10 nematode species of the genera Capillaria, Aonchotheca, Ascaridia, Heterakis, Dispharynx, Streptocara, Tetrameres, Diplotriaena and Ornithofilaria.

Morphological and morphometric characterization of Bulgarian local chicken breed – Southwest Bulgarian dzinka

The poultry genetic resources of the Republic of Bulgaria cover mostly the domestic chicken and domestic pigeon species. A number of introduced breeds of chickens are bred in the country, but also some local primitive and decorative breeds. Southwest Bulgarian dzinka is one of the three bantam chicken breeds that originated in Bulgaria. The aim of the study is to make a complete exterior characteristic of the Southwest Bulgarian dzinka breed. A phenotypic evaluation of a total of 29 roosters and 61 hens was performed. The mean body weight of roosters was 620.7±18.9 g and 492.7±8.42 g of hens. The birds are characterized by the presence of a small rose comb, beard and well feathered legs. The most common color of the plumage is spangled. The legs and beak are light in color, except for the black color of the plumage. The eyes are orange-red. The calculated Index for massiveness, Index of compactness and Index of long-leggedness for roosters were 5.35±0.13, 218.57±4.15 and 46.36±1.83, respectively, and 4.62±0.09, 214.62±3.60, 41.03±1.25 for hens.