IDEENTIFICATION OF BITING LICE SPECIES ON INFECTED DOMESTIC CHICKENS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION ON DIFFERENT BODY REGIONS

Identification of biting lice species on the infected domestic chickens and their distribution on different body regions were studied at El-Beheira Governorate. Results showed two main species of biting lice on infected chickens; the chicken body lice, Menacanthus cornutus and the shaft lice, Menopon gallinae. Statistical analysis showed significance differences in the numbers of biting lice individuals between four tested body regions of domestic chickens. The average numbers of biting lice at the 4 th week of infestation were 71.44, 45.89, 31 and 7.22 for tail (vent), abdomen, dorsal and under wings, respectively. The corresponding average numbers of biting lice at the 8 th week of infestation were 326.23, 79.78, 60.40 and 24.20, respectively. The average body weights were significantly different between uninfected and infected chicken groups where weight were 737.8 and 590.4 gm for both two groups, respectively. The total gain was 202.2 and 52.1 gm for uninfected and infected chicken groups, respectively