Preliminary survey of ectoparasites of chicken in Awka, south-eastern Nigeria

Atotal of 4650 domesticchickens, comprising 1410 cocks (30.3 %), 2550 hens (54.8 %) and 690 chicks (14.8 %), dspayed for sales between February and May 2008 at Eke-Awka market in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria were systematically examined for ectoparasites. Most of thecocks originated from the North while the hens and chicks were raised on nearby farms in Anambra and Enugu States. Overall, ectoparasites infested about 40.5 % of the chickens examined. The wing louse, Lipeurus caponis moderately infested 1935 chickens (41.61 %). The shaft louse, Menopon gallinae, extensively infested 2205 (3190 %), while the fluff louse Gonoicotes gallinae ghtly infested 471 (7.07 %) chickens. The stcktght fea, Echidnophaga gainacea, atacked the head regon of 3087 (69.37 %) whe the symptoms of scaly leg mite, Knemidocoptes mutans, was observed on 1679 (27.70 %) of the birds, respectvely. Market survey revealed a depreciation of about 10 to 20 % in the selling prizes of the affected chickens, a positive indication that ectoparasites on chickens are associated with financial losses incurred by operatives of the poultryindustry in Nigeria. Keywords: Ectoparasites, Chickens, Lipeuus caponis, Menopon gallinae, Gonoicoes gallinae, Echidnophaga gallinacea