Ectoparasites Infestation and its Associated Risk Factors in Village Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in and Around Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria

A cross sectional study on the prevalence of ectoparasites and associated risk factors in village chickens was conducted in Potiskum Area of Yobe State between February, 2016 to November, 2016. Out of 400 village chickens of both sexes and ages that were examined, 338 (84.50%) were infested with ectoparasites. Four fauna of ectoparasites namely lice, flea, ticks and mites were found infesting village chickens at different predilection sites on the bodies of the infested chickens in this study. The most prevalent species of ectoparasites identified was Lipeurus caponis (40.25%) followed by Menacanthus stramineus (14.0%), Echidnophaga gallinacean (8.75%), Cnemidocoptes mutans (7.0%), Cnemidocoptes gallinae (5.0%), Argas persicus (4.50%), Menopon gallinae (2.75%) and Dermanyssus gallinae (2.25%) in a descending order. Results also revealed that 9.0% and 75.50% of the affected village chickens were infested with single and mixed species of ectoparasites. The difference in prevalence rate of ectoparasites in adult chicken (61.75%) was higher than in younger (22.75%) ones. The finding in age group showed that there was a statistical significant differences (P<0.05) in prevalence rate of ectoparasites infestation between adult and young chickens. The prevalence of ectoparasites was higher in female (46.25%) than in the male (38.25%); higher in village chickens reared under extensive management (64.75%) system than those reared under semi-intensive (19.75%) system. Ectoparasites infestation was found to be higher in village chickens sampled from the rural (56.25%) settlements than those sampled from the semi-urban (28.25%) settlements of the study area. There was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) between male and female chicken, extensive management and semi-intensive managements systems as well as between rural and semi-urban settlements. Results of this study revealed that ectoparasites prevalence rate was higher during the rainy (49.0%) season than in the dry (35.50%) season of the sampling period. The finding in season showed that there was a statistical significant differences (P<0.05) in prevalence of ectoparasites between rainy and dry season. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of ectoparasites in free range village chickens in Potiskum Area of Yobe State, therefore, adequate control and preventive measures should be put in place to curb the effect of the parasites on the productivity of village chickens.

Keywords: Ectoparasites, Village chickens, infestation, Potiskum, Yobe State.