The main ingredient in Safeguard is Fenabendazole.(sp)a.k.a (Panacur) It affects the "hard casing" of the cecal worm that contributes to the main host that causes Black head. I posted the info in one of these threads a while back. I did a lot of research on it before I got my first peafowl because someone told me my chickens would carry something that would kill them...
It does not treat Blackhead but does help prevent it.....
from the UPA :
Cecal Worms, Heterakis gallinea, are tiny worms that live in the ceca (blind pouches) of the birds. These worms cause little damage or discomfort to the bird but are important because they serve in the perpetuation of histomoniasis. The dormant histomonad has been shown to exist from one season to the next in the egg of the cecal worm. The flock can be dewormed effectively with one of several commercially available wormers
From MSU:
Cecal Worms
This parasite (Heterakis gallinae) is found in the ceca of chickens, turkeys and other birds.
This parasite apparently does not seriously affect the health of the bird. At least no marked symptoms or pathology can be blamed on its presence. Its main importance is that it has been incriminated as a vector of Histomonas meleagridis, the agent that causes blackhead. This protozoan parasite apparently is carried in the cecal worm egg and is transmitted from bird to bird through this egg.
The life history of this parasite is similar to that of the common roundworm. The eggs are produced in the ceca and pass in the feces. They reach the infective form in about two weeks. In cool weather, this may take longer. The eggs are very resistant to environmental conditions and will remain viable for long periods.
The cecal worm can be effectively treated with fenbendazole. Since the worm itself produces no observable damage and the eggs live for long periods, it is advisable and necessary to keep chickens and turkeys separated to prevent spread of blackhead."
From a Turkey Site:
roundworm,
Heterakis gallinarum, which
also infects the ceca of many species
of galliform birds. The histomonads,
in addition to infecting the ceca
of the bird, also infect the female
heterakid worms and become incorporated
within the worms eggs.
The delicate histomonads, which do
not survive direct exposure to the
environment, are transmitted within
the protective covering of worm
eggs in the droppings of infected
birds. When the histomonad-bearing
worm eggs are ingested by a
suitable host and hatch, the histomonads
are released in the ceca
where they reproduce by repeated
division. Birds also may acquire
both heterakid worms and histomonads
by consuming earthworms
which can serve as transport
hosts of heterakid larvae by ingesting
heterakid larvae and in this
capacity as transport hosts are an
important means of transmission,
especially under field conditions.
And again from another site:
Histomonas meleagridis is most often transmitted to turkeys in the eggs of a second parasite, the cecal worm, commonly found in both chickens and turkeys. The eggs of the cecal worm may remain infective in the soil for three years of longer and could transmit the blackhead-causing protozoan during this period.
H. meleagridis may also be transmitted by earthworms that accidentally eat the cecal worm eggs. The cecal worm larva released from the egg and the blackhead parasite within that larva may remain in the earthworm for a year of more. When chickens or turkeys eat infected earthworms, the cecal worm larvae containing the blackhead parasites are released and a blackhead infection may result.
Turkeys may acquire the blackhead organism directly from the droppings of infected birds. However, meleagridis found free in the droppings and not protected by a namatode egg die quickly, particularly during warm dry weather.
there is some more info missing but i have to search for it. it tells about the outer shell of the cecal worm, it's host and other info....
It does not treat Blackhead but does help prevent it.....
from the UPA :
Cecal Worms, Heterakis gallinea, are tiny worms that live in the ceca (blind pouches) of the birds. These worms cause little damage or discomfort to the bird but are important because they serve in the perpetuation of histomoniasis. The dormant histomonad has been shown to exist from one season to the next in the egg of the cecal worm. The flock can be dewormed effectively with one of several commercially available wormers
From MSU:
Cecal Worms
This parasite (Heterakis gallinae) is found in the ceca of chickens, turkeys and other birds.
This parasite apparently does not seriously affect the health of the bird. At least no marked symptoms or pathology can be blamed on its presence. Its main importance is that it has been incriminated as a vector of Histomonas meleagridis, the agent that causes blackhead. This protozoan parasite apparently is carried in the cecal worm egg and is transmitted from bird to bird through this egg.
The life history of this parasite is similar to that of the common roundworm. The eggs are produced in the ceca and pass in the feces. They reach the infective form in about two weeks. In cool weather, this may take longer. The eggs are very resistant to environmental conditions and will remain viable for long periods.
The cecal worm can be effectively treated with fenbendazole. Since the worm itself produces no observable damage and the eggs live for long periods, it is advisable and necessary to keep chickens and turkeys separated to prevent spread of blackhead."
From a Turkey Site:
roundworm,
Heterakis gallinarum, which
also infects the ceca of many species
of galliform birds. The histomonads,
in addition to infecting the ceca
of the bird, also infect the female
heterakid worms and become incorporated
within the worms eggs.
The delicate histomonads, which do
not survive direct exposure to the
environment, are transmitted within
the protective covering of worm
eggs in the droppings of infected
birds. When the histomonad-bearing
worm eggs are ingested by a
suitable host and hatch, the histomonads
are released in the ceca
where they reproduce by repeated
division. Birds also may acquire
both heterakid worms and histomonads
by consuming earthworms
which can serve as transport
hosts of heterakid larvae by ingesting
heterakid larvae and in this
capacity as transport hosts are an
important means of transmission,
especially under field conditions.
And again from another site:
Histomonas meleagridis is most often transmitted to turkeys in the eggs of a second parasite, the cecal worm, commonly found in both chickens and turkeys. The eggs of the cecal worm may remain infective in the soil for three years of longer and could transmit the blackhead-causing protozoan during this period.
H. meleagridis may also be transmitted by earthworms that accidentally eat the cecal worm eggs. The cecal worm larva released from the egg and the blackhead parasite within that larva may remain in the earthworm for a year of more. When chickens or turkeys eat infected earthworms, the cecal worm larvae containing the blackhead parasites are released and a blackhead infection may result.
Turkeys may acquire the blackhead organism directly from the droppings of infected birds. However, meleagridis found free in the droppings and not protected by a namatode egg die quickly, particularly during warm dry weather.
there is some more info missing but i have to search for it. it tells about the outer shell of the cecal worm, it's host and other info....
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