Journal of Veterinary Parasitology
Year : 2005, Volume : 19, Issue : 1
First page : ( 57) Last page : ( 59)
Print ISSN : 0971-6157.

Incidence of ectoparasites in poultry in Palam valley of Himachal Pradesh

Chaddha Deepali, Agnihotri R.K., Katoch Rajesh

Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur-176 062, India

Abstract

A total of 517 non descript village birds and 396 farm birds of White Leghorn (WLH) breed in and around Palampur were screened for ectoparasites for a period of one year. In village 59.76% (309/517) and in farms 42.42% (168/396) birds were found infested with ectoparasites. Four species of lice Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus, Goniocotes gallinae and Lipeuris caponis and one species of mite (Ornithonyssus bursa) were detected in both village and farm birds. Lice were recorded throughout the year whereas the mites were mainly prevalent during rainy season. The incidence of Menopon gallinae was recorded to be highest in the village (49.5%) as well as in farm birds (32.82%). The overall incidence of ectoparasites was highest during rainy season in both villages (78.80%) and farm (65.27%) managed birds followed by the summer season. Lowest incidence of ectoparasites in village (42.10%) and farm (20.45%) was recorded in the winter season.

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