Epidemiological characterization and risk evaluation associated with the presence of Phthiraptera in poultry farms from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Tiago Mendonça De Oliveira ,Amanda Soriano-Araújo,Thiago Luiz Mendes Arcebispo ,Cristina Mara Teixeira ,Lucas Maciel Cunha ,Mariana Olímpia Köhler Marra Pinto ,S.a Diniz ,Marcos Xavier Silva

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v41i1.47474

Abstract

Phthiraptera are lice highly adapted to living as permanent and obligatory ectoparasites of birds and mammals. High infestations by biting lice contribute to the low productivity, loss quality of the eggs, besides weight decrease of chickens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and to characterize the risks involved with the presence of biting lice in laying chicken from Minas Gerais, Brazil, throught a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). A secondary database with information regarding 402 chicken houses from 42 properties of laying hens from the same region was used and adapted for this study. The variables that composed the correspondence model were selected through Chi-square tests (p ≤ 0.05). A risk index was designed to relate the presence of biting lice out of variables such as risk factors related to the presence of these ectoparasites. The MCA graphic designed to conduct the epidemiological characterization of the presence of biting lice presented a Chi-square accumulated value of 53.59%. There was an association between the risk index and the synanthropic birds, subsistence hens, presence of lice and other ectoparasites in shelters and ectoparasites control. These results provide knowledge about the Phthiraptera epidemiology. Besides that, this information may contribute to the decision-making process in order to reduce the risk of possible infestations in poultry farms and the negative effects of the infestations.

Highlights

Phthiraptera order is constituted by invertebrates popularly known as lice
Considering the possible economic, productive and sanitary losses by the commercial poultry industry that may be attributed to lice infestation, this study aimed to develop a risk index and to characterize the epidemiology of these ectoparasites in poultry farms from Minas Gerais, Brazil
Epidemiological aspects that could characterize the presence of parasites from the Phthiraptera order in those laying houses were evaluated through the use of the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA)

Summary

Introduction

Phthiraptera order is constituted by invertebrates popularly known as lice. These insects are highly adapted to live as permanent ectoparasites of birds and mammals (Guimarães, Tucci, & Barros-Battesti, 2001; Pereira, 2009; Enout, Lobato, Diniz, & Antonini, 2012). Phthiraptera are permanent and obligatory ectoparasites, in other words, they complete the entire life cycle on the host body (Axtell & Arends, 1990; Johnson & Clayton, 2003). The dispersion of these ectoparasites at laying houses is associated with factors such as the transit of persons, wild birds, fomites and rodents (Axtell & Arends, 1990; Guerra, Chaves, Passos, & Santos, 2008). Some studies have shown that poultry with trimmed beak shows a high degree of Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch, 1818) infestation when compared to the chicken that has regular beak (Brown, 1972; Mullens, Chen, & Owen, 2010)

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