Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research

Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research

The prevalence, geographic and seasonal distribution of ectoparasites infestation in backyard chicken of Ardabil province, Iran (the Year 2017)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Rouzbeh Tagavi 1
Mohammad Yakhchali 2
1 MS student of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University
2 Pathobiology dep., Faculty of Vet Med, Urmia Uni
10.22075/jvlr.2020.10847.1005
Abstract
Ectoparasite infestation of poultry is one of the sources of infestation for industrial poultry, thereby constituting economic losses.The study was aimed to determine prevalence and species diversity of ectoparasites infestation of poultry in Ardabil province, Iran. A total of 1241 native chickens from 17 villages were randomly investigated. The feathers and skin were investigated using the scraping method. The fissures and crevices inside walls were searched for soft ticks. Body surface and feathers were also searched for mites and lice. Flies were trapped in nests. The overall prevalence was 5.88% with the highest infestation in fall (2.09%) and the central part (2.27%) of the region. There was no significant difference between prevalence and both geographic and seasonal distribution. Lice (3.18%), soft ticks (1.63%) and flies (1.07%) had the highest prevalence in south (0.89%), center (0.32%) and north (0.33%), respectively. The species diversity of ectoparasites with the highest prevalence was for Monopon galinae (1.72%) followed by Argas pesrsicus (1.63%) and Musca domestica (1.07%). All infested chickens had also mixed infestation with two (12.51%) and three (9.77%) species of ectoparasites. Results of this study uncovered the low prevalence of ectoparasites; however, it may be an important source of infestation for industrial poultry in the region.
Keywords
Prevalence
Ectoparasite
Native chickens
Ardabil