Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Haramaya University Intensive Poultry Farm

摘要

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2010 to March 2011 to estimate prevalenceof ectoparisites infestations in Haramaya University intensive poultry farm as well as to assess the effect ofhost related risk factors. Samples were randomly taken from 384 exotic chickens and were examined by closeinspection with naked eyes and magnifying hand lens. Out of the total chickens examined, the following typesand species of ectoparasites were identified: a species of flea, Echidnophaga gallinacean; a species of mite,Dermanyssus gallinae and four species of lice Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus, Cuclotogasterheterographus and Lipeurus caponis. The overall prevalence of lice infestations was 35.1%. Statisticallysignificant difference (P0.05) between sexes, age groups as well as between breeds. The prevalence of flea infestations between thetwo breeds as well as the two age groups of chicken showed statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). Allof the chickens examined (100%) were infested with red mite. Besides, 259 (67.4%) birds were suffering frommixed infestations. Finally, the observed results of our study suggest that appropriate ectoparasite controlmeasures have to be practiced to mitigate the effect of infestation by poultry pests.