Ectoparasites and Haemoparasites of Indigenous Chicken ( Gallus domesticus ) In Ibadan And Environs

This research undertook the study of ectoparasites and haemoparasites found on and in the body of indigenous chicken ( Gallus domesticus ). Six hundred and nineteen ectoparasites were collected from 375 chicken from 28 households in and around Ibadan city between February and November, 1999. Of these, 455 (72.72%) were lice, among which 253 (40.12%) were Menopon gallinae , 53 (8.4%) were Columbicola columbae , 48 (7.75%) were Goniocotes hologaster , 33 (5.33%) were Goniodes gigas , 31 (5%) were Chelopistes meleagridis , 23 (3.7%) were Liperus caponis and 15 (2.42%) were Cuclotogaster heterographus . One hundred and twenty one (19.55%) were identified as the soft tick Argas persicus . Fourty three (6.94%) mites, identified as Dermanyssus gallina e were also found. Giemsa stained smears from 150 uncoagulated chicken blood samples examined at x 1,000 magnification, revealed presence of Plasmodium species (spp.) in 48 (32%) of the samples. Leucocytozoon spp accounted for 30 (20%), while Haemoproteus spp was identified in two (1.3%) of the samples. Mixed infection with Plasmodium spp and Leucocytozoon spp were identified in 14 (9.33%), while Leucocytozoon spp and Haemoproteus spp were identified in four (2.67%) of the blood samples. Six (4%) of the blood samples have the three haemoparasites. The need to control these ectoparasites was stressed. Key Words: Ectoparasitism, haemoparasitism, Gallus domesticus. Trop. Vet. Vol. 21: (4) 187-191 (2003)