Abstract
A survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods in free range domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) in Amansea and Ifite communities. A total of 112 G. domesticus comprising of 42 adult males, 30 adult females and 40 juveniles with plumage of different colours were examined during a house to house survey for ectoparasitic arthropods. The study was carried out between June and September, 2014. Out of the 12 G. domesticus having white plumage, (58.33%) were infested with lice. Fleas were absent on white plumage birds. The 19 G. domesticus having black plumage, (47.37%) were infested by lice. Fleas were also absent on black plumage birds. Out of 34 brown coloured G. Domesticus examined, lice, fleas and mites were recorded to have the same number of infestation (17.65%) each, while (29.41%) were infested by ticks. Out of 47 G. domesticus having mixed colour plumage, (40.42%) were infested by lice. Chi-squared test showed that there was no significant difference between ectoparasites loads on the host and the different plumage colours (P > 0.05). Because of the high prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods revealed in this study, it is recommended that some control measures should be put in place to improve chicken productivity and enhance the livelihood of these domestic fowls in the areas investigated.
Highlights
Chicken can be managed using two systems namely, open and restricted
Owing to the free range and scavenging attitude, traditional village birds are in permanent contact with soil and insects
The purpose of this study was to identify ectoparasites found on domestic chickens by plumage in Amansea and Ifite communities in Awka, Anambra state and to ascertain the distribution of the parasites on the body of the chicken
Summary
Chicken can be managed using two systems namely, open (free - range) and restricted (confined system). In free -range system, chickens move about freely over a wide area in search of food. They are always hardy, breeding is natural, which in turn saves hatchery costs and other expenses and their strong nature may partially be expressed in disease resistance [1]. In the rural system of management of poultry, the birds are left to scavenge around the house during the day time to obtain what feed they may be able to get from the environment often as offal, insects and seeds. Owing to the free range and scavenging attitude, traditional village birds are in permanent contact with soil and insects. Soil when humid and warm may serve as an important reservoir transmission site for external larval stages of parasites [2]
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