TY - JOUR T1 - A survey of ectoparasites, cestodes and management of free-range indigenous chickens in rural Zimbabwe JF - Journal of the South African Veterinary Association Y1 - 2009 DO - 10.4102/jsava.v80i3.200 A1 - Mukaratirwa,S. A1 - Hove,T. SP - 188 EP - 191 KW - Cestodes KW - ectoparasites KW - free-range chickens KW - husbandry KW - Zimbabwe AB -

A survey of ectoparasites, cestodes and husbandry aspects of indigenous free-range chickens was carried out in selected districts from the highveld and lowveld of rural Zimbabwe. The survey recorded infection with 4 species from the order Phthiraptera (lice), 1 species from the order Siphonaptera (fleas), 6 species from the order Acarina (ticks and mites) and 9 species of cestodes. Among the ectoparasites, the most prevalent was
Menacanthus stramineus (87.7 %) followed by Echidinophaga gallinacea (71.9 %). Chickens in the Mazowe district had the highest number of ectoparasites species (10 of 11) followed by Goromonzi district (9 of 11) both these districts are situated in the highveld of Zimbabwe. The most prevalent cestode species was Raillietina tetragona (84.4 %), followed by Raillletina echinobothrida (32.2 %). Chickens in the Goromonzi district had the highest number of cestode species (7 of 9), followed by Mazowe district (one subgenus and 5 of 9). In all the districts sampled the main purpose of keeping free-range chickens was for meat for the
household, with few households using the birds as a source of income. The majority of households kept their birds extensively with barely any appropriate housing, and supplementary feeding was only occasionally practised.
 

VL - 80 UR - http://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/200 IS - 3 JO - J S Afr Vet Assoc ER -