Intestinal Tapeworms in Chickens: Tapeworms are cestode flatworms that attach their heads to the digestive mucosa and form a ribbon made up of segments. They cause chronic malnutrition that can affect body development in broilers and body and reproductive development in layers.

They are frequently detected during necropsies through the presence of gas and foam in the intestine.

In this situation, it is important to distinguish whether it is Hymenolepis or Railletina species, either by direct observation, or by microscopy of the parasite eggs in the feces.

In case of a negative result, the differential diagnosis includes nemadode worms (ascaris, heterakis or capillaria).

These intestinal parasites are phylogenetically related to insects (essentially, they are insects adapted to an internal environment). Their treatments may present toxicity (although low) that can affect the liver and consequently the laying.