COMMON ECTOPARASITES OF POULTRY AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Insect and arachnid ectoparasites display a wide range of forms of association with their hosts, obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent, superficial to subcutaneous. The activity of ectoparasites infesting livestock and companion animal hosts is of particular interest because it results in a wide range of pathogenic effects. Ectoparasitism is predictable as an important public health threat affecting both animal and human welfare. The presence of ectoparasites in animals creates a multitude of health risks to both the host animals and to the humans who come in contact with these animals. Poultry farming is susceptible to various challenges, and one major concern is the presence of ectoparasites that can harm the birds and reduce production. Ectoparasites are external parasites that infest the skin and feathers of poultry. Proper management is essential to keep these parasites in check and maintain the health and productivity of your flock.

Poultry industry is one of the promising and fast growing sector in India. This sector constitutes two components, the bigger component pertains to the organised commercial sector and the smaller is backyard poultry sector. The smaller sector forms a key component in the sustainment of small and poor farmers by providing a sense of security in terms of food and income generation. According to 19th Livestock census approximately 30 million farmers are engaged in backyard poultry. Despite being an important source of nutrition, the poultry birds are often exposed to several serious threats which directly or indirectly affect the economic growth and development of landless or marginal farmers. Ectoparasitic infestation of poultry cause huge annual losses to the poultryman. These parasites belong to the phylum Arthropoda which contains over 80% of all known animal species. Parasites of poultry are economically important for several reasons. Some transmit disease, but all cause irritation and stress to some degree and can cause anaemia through blood loss, weight loss, drop in egg production and in cases can be fatal. Insects (ticks, mites, fleas, lice, etc.) nuisance is not a new problem and well known to everyone since old age especially in the animals. A number of these infect birds and cause severe irritation which leads to loss of feathers, loss of weight and low numbers of eggs. Small ticks feed on the blood of birds and can carry germs which will cause other diseases. External parasites hide in the walls, floors and bedding of the cages and houses where birds are kept.

To control the parasites, it is necessary to keep these places clean and kill any parasites there. Today, tick control has become a challenge to researchers exploring a sustainable way to mitigate the problem of tick infestations. Chemicals groups commercially available in the market viz., synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, formamidines and macrocyclic lactones are repeatedly used for the control of ticks infesting livestock and poultry. Common Signs and Symptoms: Heavy infestations decrease reproductive potential in males, egg production in females, and weight gain in young birds; they can also cause anemia and death.

IMPORTANT ECTOPARASITES OF POULTRY

1. LICE: Heavy louse infestation is known as pediculosis and is particularly common in poultry. Different species of lice on birds includes Goniocotes gallinae, Cuclotogaster heterographus, Goniodes dissimilis, Lipeurus caponis, Menacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, etc. They are of importance because of the direct damage they cause by chewing the skin or feathers, although some blood‐feeding may occur when the base of feathers are damaged. Clinical importance is therefore usually a function of the density of the lice present. Transmission is usually by direct physical contact.

TREATMENT: Insecticidal compounds, such as permethrin, carbaryl, malathion, cypermethrin, can be used to kill lice. Deep‐litter or free‐range birds may be more easily treated by scattering carbaryl, coumaphos, malathion dust on the litter.

CONTROL: Regular checking and spraying of birds will enable infestation rates to be controlled. In addition, cross‐contamination should be avoided. This is achieved by treating any birds in the environment of the chickens and restricting contactbetween wild birds and poultry. The housing and nesting should be thoroughly cleaned to eliminate sources of reinfestation such as egg‐laden feathers.

2. MITES: Infestation by mites can result in severe dermatitis, which may cause significant welfare problems and economic losses. Mites cause feeding lesions most commonly seen on the breast or legs of the bird. The feeding nymphs and adults cause irritation, restlessness and debility, and in heavy infections there may be severe, and occasionally fatal, anaemia. Newly hatched chicks may die rapidly as a result of mite activity. Egg production may decrease significantly.

TREATMENT: Treatment of birds is only palliative, and attention should be paid to the mite habitats in buildings. Individual birds may be treated by spraying or dusting the birds with an acaricide such as a pyrethroid or carbaryl, coumaphos, malathion. Systemic control by repeated treatment with ivermectin or moxidectin is effective for short periods.

CONTROL: Buildings and equipment should be cleaned, scalded with boiling water and treated with an acaricide such as carbaryl or synergised pyrethroids. Dimethoate and fenthion may be used as residual house sprays when poultry are not present. Where the mites have invaded dwelling houses their ability to survive in nests, without feeding for several months, makes these important as reservoir sites, and all nests should be removed from eaves once the fledglings havedeparted.

3. FLIES: Several species of manure-breeding flies may be found associated with poultry production facilities which includes the house fly (Musca domestica), little house fly (Fannia canicularis and F. femoralis), black garbage fly (Hydrotaea aenescens), black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), blow flies (family Calliphoridae) and several other species of small gnats. Accumulated poultry manure can be highly suitable for fly breeding, especially where general sanitation is poor and when there is excessive moisture. Suitable fly-breeding conditions can be present year round in enclosed high-rise egglayer houses with long-term manure accumulation and controlled indoor temperatures and in shallow pit houses in which manure is held for several months.

Control: Successful fly control in poultry operations should be an integrated approach with emphasis on proper manure management.

Four basic management strategies make up a successful integrated fly control program:

a) PHYSICAL CONTROL: Management of poultry manure so that it is not conducive to fly breeding is the most effective means of control. Dry manure management is practiced under two types of systems: frequent manure removal (at least weekly) and long-term, in-house storage of manure.

b) BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: Manure management practices encourage the survival and build-up of beneficial predators and parasites that can suppress house fly populations. Keeping manure dry also encourages the increase in other insects that compete for nutrients in the manure habitat. Such beneficial organisms as predacious mite (e.g., Macroceles sp.) and small black hister beetles (Carcinopspumilio) will readily feed on house fly eggs and first-instar house fly larvae. Another group of beneficial insects includes tiny parasitic wasps. Female wasps oviposit their eggs in fly pupae. Inside the fly pupa, the developing larval wasp kills and consumes the fly before it emerges. A natural pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, has been formulated into a spray product which is sprayed directly over accumulated manure. Adult house flies come in contact with spores of Beauveria that develop hyphae that penetrate into the body cavity of the flies, resulting in death.

c) MECHANICAL CONTROL: Screens and fly traps are two methods of mechanical fly control. Where possible, doors and windows should be screened to prevent entry of flies, especially in processing areas. Several kinds of fly traps are available. Some traps consist of a fly attractant in a liquid to attract flies, and others are electrical, employing a black light with either an electrically charged grid to kill the insects or sticky sheets to get attracted flies stuck.

d) CHEMICAL CONTROL: Insecticides should be considered as supplementary to sanitation and management measures aimed at preventing fly breeding. Producers should monitor fly populations on a regular basis to evaluate their fly management program and to decide when insecticide applications are needed. Chemical insecticides can play an important role in an integrated fly control program. However, improper timing and indiscriminate insecticide use can lead to increased fly populations. Also, selective application of insecticides can avoid killing beneficial fly predators and parasites. Insecticide applications may be directed to adult flies (adulticides) or fly larvae (larvicides).

Here are some common ectoparasites of poultry and strategies for their management:

1. Chicken Mites:

• Types: Common chicken mites include the Northern fowl mite, Red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae), and Scaly leg mite (Knemidocoptes mutans).
• Management:
  • Regularly clean and disinfect the poultry house and nesting areas.
  • Use approved acaricides (mite-killing chemicals) to treat the birds and their environment.
  • Isolate and treat affected birds to prevent the spread of mites.

2. Chicken Lice:

• Types: Common chicken lice include the shaft louse, wing louse, and body louse.
• Management:
  • Inspect birds regularly for signs of infestation, including feather damage and itching.
  • Dust or spray birds with poultry-safe insecticides as recommended.
  • Maintain good coop hygiene to prevent reinfestation.

3. Fleas:

• Types: Sticktight fleas are a common pest of poultry.
• Management:
  • Treat birds and their living quarters with approved flea control products.
  • Remove and treat infested birds if necessary.

4. Ticks:

• Types: The common poultry tick is the Argas persicus or “fowl tick.”
• Management:
  • Keep the coop and surroundings clean to reduce tick habitat.
  • Apply approved acaricides to control tick populations.

5. Bedbugs:

• Types: The most common bedbug affecting poultry is the tropical bedbug.
• Management:
  • Regularly clean and disinfect the coop and nesting materials.
  • Use approved insecticides to manage bedbug populations.

6. Flies:

• Types: Houseflies and stable flies are common in poultry environments.
• Management:
  • Implement fly control measures, such as traps and insecticide application.
  • Maintain cleanliness to reduce fly breeding sites.

7. Mosquitoes:

• Types: Mosquitoes can transmit diseases to poultry.
• Management:
  • Remove standing water sources where mosquitoes breed.
  • Use mosquito nets or screens to protect birds.

8. Lice Flies:

• Types: Lice flies or flat flies can be a nuisance to poultry.
• Management:
  • Implement fly control measures similar to those for other fly species.

9. Poultry Bugs:

• Types: Poultry bugs, like the bedbug, can infest birds.
• Management:
  • Maintain clean living conditions.
  • Apply poultry-safe insecticides if necessary.

10. Scaly Leg Mites:

• Types: Scaly leg mites burrow under the scales of chicken legs.
• Management:
  • Soak affected legs in oil or use approved treatments to suffocate the mites.
  • Maintain good coop hygiene to prevent reinfestation.

11. Feather Mites:

• Types: Feather mites can affect the feathers and skin of poultry.
• Management:
  • Apply poultry-safe acaricides and inspect and treat affected birds.

Regular monitoring, proper hygiene, and the timely use of approved treatments are key to managing ectoparasites in poultry. Consult with a veterinarian or poultry health expert for guidance on specific control measures and safe use of pesticides to maintain the health and well-being of your flock.

Prevention and Control of external parasites in poultry

• Eliminate wild birds from the poultry house. This can be done by repairing any holes in the roof or sides of the house that birds might use as entry points.
• Regularly check birds for signs of mite and lice and check common hiding places such as under perches and in cracks.
• Another important preventive measure is to be sure all equipment and new birds coming into a flock are free of lice and mites.
• Most of the chemical acaricide are slowly becoming less efficient due to development of resistance against them, currently AMITRAZ is widely popular and effective acaricide which is used in the commercial poultry production after pyrethroids. The ideal acaricide should be long-lasting, selective, and should not induce resistance, be also safe for the host, easy to apply and quick-acting, should not corrode farm equipment, with a short withdrawal period and be cheap.
• At present, none of the molecules used against mite has all these features. The exclusive use of acaricides is still a reality worldwide. Poultry farmers have little choice and often use acaricides licensed for crops and/ or livestock pest control because of the lack of molecules licensed for use against D. gallinae and other ticks and mites, also for the prophylaxis and control of these poultry pest. Recent advanced option is fluralaner compound which is a systemic insecticide and acaricide that is administered orally. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for use in animals

Conclusion:

Today, ectoparasite control in poultry has become a challenge to researchers exploring a sustainable way to mitigate the problem of tick infestations. Chemical groups commercially available in the market are repeatedly used for the control of ticks infesting livestock and poultry, however, these chemicals kill non-target organisms and threaten human health due to the toxic residues in meat. Hence, proper managemental practices along with judicious use of chemicals can help mitigate the problem of ectoparasites in poultry farms.

Ectoparasitic infestation in poultry is a ubiquitous problem responsible for creating deleterious effect on poultry production. These diseases are not life threatening to poultry but they indirectly are responsible for decrease eggs and meat production in poultry industry. To help the farmers in raising healthy birds, it is required that proper knowledge of important parasitic diseases and their management should be given to them, so that these farmers can gain maximum profit.

Compiled  & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the

Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 Image-Courtesy-Google

 Reference-On Request.

ECTOPARASITES IN POULTRY AND HOW DO THEY AFFECT PRODUCTION

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