Investigation of ectoparasites in budgerigar and canaries in Burdur city of Turkey

Abstract

Ectoparasite infestations are of the most important and neglected diseases of birds. Ectoparasites cause sirious harmful effects such as; irritation, feathers and skin damage, restlessness, anemia, weight loss, transmission of other pathogens, reducing overall fitness and decreasing long term survival depending on the intensity of the infestation. The main objective of this study was to investigate the ectoparasites of budgerigars and canaries in Burdur city of Turkey. The material of the study was consisted of randomly selected 555 budgies in 192 cages and 121 canaries in 49 cages belongs to 12 different breeders in center district of Burdur city, Turkey. The feathers of head, neck, abdomen, legs, tail, beak, under the wings, around the cloaca and feet of all birds, in addition cages and cage equipments have been examined in terms of ectoparasites. As a result; no ectoparasite species were found on/between feathers and other body parts of overall 676 cage birds, however, a large number of Dermanyssus gallinae were found in cages and cage equipments. Dermanyssus gallinae have been detected in rates of 28.65% and 28.57% in budgerigar and canary cages, respectively. The present study is the first investigation study of ectoparasites of budgerigar and canaries in Turkey and rarely in the world. In addition, within this study D. gallinae infestation is being reported for the first time from budgerigar and canaries from Turkey.