Prevalence and Distribution of Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) in Free Range Chickens from the Traditional Rearing System in the Algerian North East, Area of El-Tarf

A study was carried out on 144 local chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), from rural area of El-Tarf to determine the prevalence of chewing lice (Phthiraptera). The overall prevalence rate was 100% in the El- Tarf poultry. Nine different species of chewing lice were identified during this study: Menopon gallinae, Goniocotes gallinae, Lipeurus caponis, Goniodes dissimilis, Goniodes gigas, Menacanthus stramineus, Cuclotogaster heterographus, Menacanthus cornutus and Menacanthus pallidulus. Menopon gallinae (97.2%) was the most prevalent lice identified. The mean intensity of lice in the area of El-Tarf was 172.5 per chicken. Menopon gallinae was the species which has the highest mean intensity of infestation (83.2%). The distribution of nine chewing lice on poultry and their most preferred sites was determined.