Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Haramaya University Intensive Poultry Farm

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2010 to March 2011 to estimate prevalence of ectoparisites infestations in Haramaya University intensive poultry farm as well as to assess the effect of host related risk factors. Samples were randomly taken from 384 exotic chickens and were examined by close inspection with naked eyes and magnifying hand lens. Out of the total chickens examined, the following types and species of ectoparasites were identified: a species of flea, Echidnophaga gallinacean; a species of mite, Dermanyssus gallinae and four species of lice Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus, Cuclotogaster heterographus and Lipeurus caponis. The overall prevalence of lice infestations was 35.1%. Statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) was observed in the prevalence among the species of lice. Analysis of the effect of host related risk factors to the prevalence of lice infestation did not show statistically significant variation (P>0.05) between sexes, age groups as well as between breeds. The prevalence of flea infestations between the two breeds as well as the two age groups of chicken showed statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). All of the chickens examined (100%) were infested with red mite. Besides, 259 (67.4%) birds were suffering from mixed infestations. Finally, the observed results of our study suggest that appropriate ectoparasite control measures have to be practiced to mitigate the effect of infestation by poultry pests.