@article {94984, title = {Prevalence and seasonal variation of ectoparasite load in free-range chicken of Kashmir valley}, journal = {Tropical Animal Health and Production}, volume = {41}, year = {2009}, month = {02-2009}, pages = {1371 - 1376}, abstract = {

A faunistical study of ectoparasites was carried out for a period of two years from January 2005 to December 2006 in rural free-range chicken purchased from different areas of Kashmir valley. Screening of a total of 478 birds revealed only lice infestation with an overall prevalence of about 100\% and 97.69\% birds harboring multiple species. The prevalence for various species of lice, during winter, spring, summer, autumn and overall prevalence respectively, was 90.32\%, 99.14\%, 100\%, 98.34\% and 96.86\% for Lipeurus caponis; 33.87\%, 48.71\%, 57.75\%, 39.66\% and 44.76\% for Goniodes gigas; 29.83\%, 32.47\%, 45.68\%, 32.23\% and 34.93\% for Menopon gallinae; 28.22\%, 32.47\%, 39.65\%, 32.23\% and 33.05\% for Menacanthus cornutus; 16.12\%, 19.65\%, 25\%, 18.18\% and 19.66\% for Goniocotes gallinae and 6.45\%, 12.82\%, 13.79\%, 4.95\% and 9.41\% for Eomenacanthus stramineus. The seasonal influence on nature and intensity of infestation was evident.

}, keywords = {chicken, ectoparasites, epidemiology, free-range, lice, Prevalence, season}, issn = {0049-4747}, doi = {10.1007/s11250-009-9324-9}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11250-009-9324-9}, author = {S.T. Salam and M.S. Mir and A.R. Khan} }