Studies on ectoparasites of poultry in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the ectoparasites of poultry in Maiduguri, Nigeria, between May and July 2005. Of the eight hundred and fifty (850) birds examined, 129 (15.2%) were infested. Species identified were Argas persicus 93 (72.1%), Gonioides gigas 16 (12.4%), Menacanthus stramineus 12 (9.3%), and Lipeurus caponis 8 (6.2%) (p0.05). Adult birds had a higher 90 (15.7%) infestation than young birds 39 (14.2%) (p>0.05), local chickens were more 107 (28.2%) infested than exotic breeds 12 (2.6%) (p0.05), while black, white, and brown-coloured chickens had 30 (15.0%), 30 (20.0%), and 69 (13.8%) respectively (p