Prevalence of Ectoparasite Infestation in Chicken in and Around Ambo Town, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted from July to October 2013 to estimate prevalence and identify different species of ectoparasites infesting chicken in semi-intensive and backyard chicken farms in and around Ambo Town, West Shewa, Ethiopia. A total of 390 chickens were randomly selected. Age, sex, breed and management system of the study population was simultaneously recorded. Ectoparasites were collected from different parts of the body including shank scraping and identified with stereomicroscopy or light microscopy. An overall 67.95% (265/390) prevalence was recorded and five species of ectoparasites under three orders (Phthiraptera  (lice),  Siphonaptera(flea) and mite were identified. The prevalence of pediculosis, flea infestation and mange were 52.1%, 44.36% and 34.62%, respectively. Three species of lice (Cuclotogaster heterographa (50%), Menacanthus stramineus (1.28%) and Lipeurus caponis (6.15%)), one species of flea(Echidnophaga gallinacean (44.36%)) and mite(Cnemidocoptes mutans (34.62%)) were identified. Higher prevalence rate was recorded in male (83.89%) than female (58.09%), young (74.45%) than adult (61.79%) and local (87.55%) than exotic (26.4%) breed chicken. There was no infestation of  chicken  with  ectoparasite  in  semi-intensive  farming  system  while  87.46%  (265/303)  of  chickens  kept  under extensive management system were infested. Statistically, there was significance difference between categories of sex (χ2=28.145, p<0.05), age (χ2=8.083, p<0.05), management (χ2=2.37, p<0.05) and breed (χ2=1.458, p<0.05) groups in prevalence of ectoparasite infestation (p<0.05). Male, young and local breed chicken groups were 3.757 (CI=2.265-6.234),  1.883  (CI=1.214-2.921)  and  19.6  (11.427-33.618)  times  more  likely  infested  by  ectoparasite than female, adult and cross breed groups, respectively. In conclusion, infestation of chicken with ectoparasites was important constraint in poultry production sector. Therefore, application of integrated control strategy, good management practices, creation of awareness and further detailed study were recommended.