Ectoparasite species attacking chicken in eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Ectoparasites of chickens are important for poultry farming and other types of poultry rearing by ways of causing nuisance and being as transmitter of various diseases to poultry resulting in poor-quality and quantity products. From the directly survey result, it was found that Megninia cubitalis mostly attacked laying hens reared in a cage at neck, wing, chest, back and buttock with the average number of 52.1- 204.9 mites per chicken, and followed by injured on Rhode Island red with 85.0 mites, abundantly at buttock. And the louse, Lipeurus caponis was found in Polish chicken with 100.5 insects that mostly appeared at back of chicken, and followed by the appearance in Rhode Island red with 70.0 insects, abundantly at chest. This insect preferred to live at wing and chest. Whereas, result from suction method showed that Megninia cubitalis was also found in laying hen reared in a cage with the average number of 71.4-168.3 mites per chicken. It lives everywhere on the body as neck, head and buttock. Besides, Cuclotogaster heterogoraphus was observed on the body area equal to 43.8 insects, where the louse, Menopon gallinae was monitored in Polish chickens with totally, 22.5 insects, plenty at the buttock area.