Ectoparasitic Fauna of Scavenging Chickens (Gallus Domesticus) from Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia
A study was conducted on 240 scavenging chickens randomly obtained from various districts from the state of Penang, Peninsular Malaysia. The chickens were closely examined for visible ectoparasites in the laboratory. The ectoparasites were collected using a blunt forceps and stored in univers...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/38099/ http://eprints.usm.my/38099/1/Ectoptarasites_in_scavenging_chickens.pdf |
| Summary: | A study was conducted
on 240 scavenging chickens randomly
obtained from various districts from the
state of Penang, Peninsular Malaysia.
The chickens were closely examined for
visible ectoparasites in the laboratory. The
ectoparasites were collected using a blunt
forceps and stored in universal bottles
containing 70% ethanol. Ten species of
ectoparasites were noted which consisted
of fi ve species of lice, two species of mites,
two species of ticks and one species of
chigger. The lice identifi ed were Menopon
gallinae, Menacanthus pallidulus,
Lipeurus caponis, Goniocotes gallinae and
Goniodes dissimilis. These lice occurred
in the fl uff of the feathers of the body
especially the neck, back, abdomen and
wings. The mites were Megninia sp. and
Pterolichus sp. Examinations of the ears
and combs revealed Haemaphysalis sp.,
the hard tick. Meanwhile, Ornithonyssus
sp., the soft tick was found on feathers,
whereas chigger, Leptotrombidium sp.
was found attached to the skins. The
study also revealed that M. gallinae was
the most common ectoparasite with 76.7%
occurrence, followed by Pterolichus sp.
(69.6%), L. caponis (63.3%), M. pallidulus
(41.7%), Leptotrombidium sp. (17.5%), G.
gallinae (9.5%), Haemaphysalis sp. (6.7%),
Megninia sp. (3.8%) and Ornithonyssus sp.
(3.8%). The least common ectoparasite
was G. dissimilis occurring in 2.1% of the
chickens |
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