@article {96534, title = {Prevalence of ectoparasites in free-range backyard chicken flocks in northeast Algeria}, journal = {Veterinarska stanica}, volume = {52}, year = {2021}, month = {Jun-07-2021}, pages = {693-702}, abstract = {

Free-range backyard chicken breeding is gaining popularity in Algerian rural regions. Due to the natural rearing conditions, chickens are exposed a wide range of microbes and ectoparasites. Currently, little is known about the variety of ectoparasites infesting free-range chickens in Algeria. The present study was conducted over a two year period on 169 backyard chicken, with the aim of identifying and estimating the prevalence of ectoparasites on different body parts of the chickens, and their immediate environments in northeast Algeria. In total, 9943 ectoparasites were identified, and the seven most dominant species were: Menopon gallinae (82.84\%), Goniodes dissimilis (15.97\%), Menacanthus stramineus (13.60\%), Goniocotes gallinae (6.50\%), Lipeurus caponis (5.23\%), Argas persicus (9.46\%) and Dermanyssus gallinae (1.18\%). Menopon gallinae was the most frequent isolated ectoparasite throughout the year. Soft ticks Argas persicus were isolated during spring and summer, mainly from crevices and cracks, while the chicken red mite Dermanyssus gallinae was detected in autumn with a low load on bird body parts and a high abundance in nests. These results list the most abundant ectoparasites in backyard chickens, which could facilitate the improvement of rearing management.

}, keywords = {Algeria, backyard chickens, ectoparasite, Prevalence}, issn = {1849-1170, 0350-7149}, doi = {10.46419/vs.52.6.3}, url = {https://hrcak.srce.hr/249013}, author = {Amir Nahal and Souad Righi and Mehdi Boucheikhchoukh and Ahmed Benakhla} } @article {95091, title = {Development of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the identification of lice isolated from farm animals}, journal = {Parasite}, volume = {27}, year = {2020}, month = {04-2020}, pages = {14 pp}, type = {Open Access}, abstract = {

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is now routinely used for the rapid identification of microorganisms isolated from clinical samples and has been recently successfully applied to the identification of arthropods. In the present study, this proteomics tool was used to identify lice collected from livestock and poultry in Algeria. The MALDI-TOF MS spectra of 408 adult specimens were measured for 14 species, including Bovicola bovis, B. ovis, B. caprae, Haematopinus eurysternus, Linognathus africanus, L. vituli, Solenopotes capillatus, Menacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, Chelopistes meleagridis, Goniocotes gallinae, Goniodes gigas, Lipeurus caponis and laboratory reared Pediculus humanus corporis. Good quality spectra were obtained for 305 samples. Spectral analysis revealed intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity that were consistent with the morphological classification. A blind test of 248 specimens was performed against the in-lab database upgraded with new spectra and validated using molecular tools. With identification percentages ranging from 76\% to 100\% alongside high identification scores (mean\ =\ 2.115), this study proposes MALDI-TOF MS as an effective tool for discriminating lice species.

French title: D\éveloppement de la spectrom\étrie de masse MALDI-TOF MS pour l\’identification de poux isol\és d\’animaux de ferme

R\ésum\é

La Spectrom\étrie de Masse \à Temps de Vol par D\ésorption/Ionisation Laser Assist\ée apr\ès Matrice est maintenant utilis\ée pour l\’identification rapide des microorganismes isol\és \à partir d\’\échantillons cliniques et a r\écemment \ét\é appliqu\ée avec succ\ès pour l\’identification des arthropodes. Dans cette \étude, cet outil prot\éomique a \ét\é utilis\é pour identifier les poux pr\élev\és sur le b\étail et la volaille en Alg\érie. Les spectres MALDI-TOF MS de 408 sp\écimens adultes ont \ét\é mesur\és pour 14 esp\èces, dont Bovicola bovis, B. ovis, B. caprae, Haematopinus eurysternus, Linognathus africanus, L. vituli, Solenopotes capillatus, Menacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, Chelopistes meleagridis, Goniocotes gallinae, Goniodes gigas, Lipeurus caponis et Pediculus humanus corporis \élev\é en laboratoire. Des spectres de bonne qualit\é ont \ét\é obtenus pour 305 \échantillons. L\’analyse spectrale a r\év\él\é une reproductibilit\é intra-esp\èce et une sp\écificit\é inter-esp\èces qui concordaient avec la classification morphologique. Un test \à l\’aveugle de 248 \échantillons a \ét\é effectu\é par rapport \à la base de donn\ées de notre laboratoire mise \à niveau avec de nouveaux spectres et valid\ée \à l\’aide d\’outils mol\éculaires. Avec des pourcentages d\’identification allant de 76 \à 100\ \% et des scores d\’identification \élev\és (moyenne\ : 2,115), cette \étude propose MALDI-TOF MS comme un outil efficace pour distinguer les esp\èces de poux.

}, keywords = {lice, MALDI-TOF MS, Mallophaga}, doi = {10.1051/parasite/2020026}, url = {https://www.parasite-journal.org/10.1051/parasite/2020026}, author = {Basma Ouarti and Maureen Laroche and Souad Righi and Mohamed Nadir Meguini and Ahmed Benakhla and Didier Raoult and Parola,Phillipe} } @article {94597, title = {Inventory of lice of mammals and farmyard chicken in North-eastern Algeria}, journal = {Veterinary World}, volume = {11}, year = {2018}, month = {online March 201}, pages = {386 - 396}, abstract = {

Background and Aim: Lice are permanent ectoparasites, extremely specific to their hosts. Their great importance in veterinary medicine remain significant, they can cause their direct pathogenic actions like irritability, dermatitis, anemia, decreased weight gain, and milk production. The purpose of this work was to made the first time an inventory of mammalian lice in North-eastern Algeria.


Materials and Methods: Our survey of lice infestation was conducted on several animal species from five provinces of North-eastern Algeria. A total of 57 cattle, 83 sheep, 77 goats, 111 wild boars, and 63 farmyard chickens were examined. The collection of lice was carried out much more in mammals and chickens during the winter period. Lice were collected either manually or using brushing and kept in flasks containing 70\% ethanol. The identification of lice was achieved in the laboratory using a binocular loupe.


Results: Concerning cattle, 63\% and 27\% of those examined subjects from Souk-Ahras and Guelma study areas, respectively, were carriers of lice. Damalinia bovis was the louse most frequently found on cattle in these two regions. Three other species were identified in Souk-Ahras: Haematopinus eurysternus (25\%), Linognathus vituli (10\%), and Solenopotes capillatus (5\%). Regarding sheep, 39\% and 24\% of examined animals in Souk-Ahras and Guelma, were carrying lice. Damalinia ovis was the most frequently encountered lice on sheep in both regions. Linognathus ovillus also was identified in Souk-Ahras, representing 0.3\% of the collected lice. Concerning goats, 53\% and 30\% of examined animals in Souk-Ahras and Guelma, were parasitized of lice. Two species of lice were found: Damalinia caprae and Linognathus africanus. For farmyard chickens, 69\% and 100\% of the farmyard chicken in Souk-Ahras and Mila were parasitized by lice, respectively. Menopon gallinae was the most frequently encountered louse in farmyard chicken in both regions. Eight other species were identified in Mila and four other species only in Souk-Ahras. Finally, 25\% and 28\% of the wild boars in Annaba and El Tarf were parasitized by lice, respectively. Haematopinus suis was the only species found on wild boars in both regions.

Conclusion: These results are to be taken into account for lice control schemes and louse-borne diseases. Keywords: boars, farmyard chickens, lice, North-eastern Algeria, ruminants.

}, keywords = {boars, farmyard chickens, lice, North-eastern Algeria, ruminants}, issn = {09728988}, doi = {10.14202/vetworld.2018.386-396}, url = {http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.11/March-2018/21.pdf}, author = {Mohamed Nadir Meguini and Souad Righi and Faycal Zeroual and Khelaf Saidani and Ahmed Benakhla} }