Lice infestation and diversity in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Biting lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) are ectoparasites that play important roles in the transmission of disease agents that infect turkeys and impact turkey productivity. This study aimed to determine the diversity of lice that infest turkeys in the Central Java Province and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Lice sampling was conducted at 16 different locations from April 2019 to June 2019 in turkeys aged 4 months to 2 years. The samples were stored in 70% alcohol and were identified using avian louse keys. The morphology of the specimens was macroscopically and microscopically evaluated, and the resulting data were descriptively and qualitatively analyzed. Results: A total of 2505 lice were collected, and two families and five genera of lice were identified. Three lice genus members of the Philopteridae family (Lipeurus, Oxylipeurus, and Chelopistes) and two genera of the Menoponidae family (Colpocephalum and Menacanthus) were identified. Lipeurus was the most frequently identified genera in turkeys, whereas Menacanthus was the most rarely identified one. The White Holland breed had the highest number of lice infestations, whereas the Jersey Buff breed exhibited the highest diversity of lice genera. The average number of lice infestations was higher in male turkeys than in female turkeys. Conclusion: The occurrence of ectoparasites in domestic turkeys indicates that the existence and diversity of lice genera in the study location can be influenced by turkey type, turkey maintenance system, enclosure sanitation measures, lack of strategic ectoparasite control, and environmental factors.

Epidemiological characterization and risk evaluation associated with the presence of Phthiraptera in poultry farms from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Phthiraptera are lice highly adapted to living as permanent and obligatory ectoparasites of birds and mammals. High infestations by biting lice contribute to the low productivity, loss quality of the eggs, besides weight decrease of chickens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and to characterize the risks involved with the presence of biting lice in laying chicken from Minas Gerais, Brazil, throught a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). A secondary database with information regarding 402 chicken houses from 42 properties of laying hens from the same region was used and adapted for this study. The variables that composed the correspondence model were selected through Chi-square tests (p ≤ 0.05). A risk index was designed to relate the presence of biting lice out of variables such as risk factors related to the presence of these ectoparasites. The MCA graphic designed to conduct the epidemiological characterization of the presence of biting lice presented a Chi-square accumulated value of 53.59%. There was an association between the risk index and the synanthropic birds, subsistence hens, presence of lice and other ectoparasites in shelters and ectoparasites control. These results provide knowledge about the Phthiraptera epidemiology. Besides that, this information may contribute to the decision-making process in order to reduce the risk of possible infestations in poultry farms and the negative effects of the infestations.

Do Orientation-Based Differences in Nestbox Temperature Cause Differential Ectoparasite Load and Explain Patterns of Nest-Site Selection and Offspring Condition in Great Tits?

Nest ectoparasites have been linked previously to patterns of nest-site choice and breeding success in birds. Recent research has shown nestboxes facing south-southwest are occupied less frequently by great tits (Parus major) than identical boxes facing other directions, and are associated with reduced offspring condition. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that these findings are due to ectoparasite load being directionally nonuniform, possibly because of nonuniformity in nestbox internal temperature. Nests contained, in order of prevalence, hen fleas (Ceratophyllus gallinae), haematophagous blowflies (Protocalliphoraspp.), biting lice (Ischnocera), and ticks/mites (Acari). Although southwest-facing nestboxes were significantly warmer than other boxes, there was no directional difference in total ectoparasite load or abundance of particular species. Similarly, there was no relationship between abundance of any ectoparasite species (either per-nest or per-chick) and avian offspring condition determined using wing length or relative mass. We discuss several possible, nonmutually exclusive, explanations for this, including compensatory responses, costs of parasitism being transferred to parents, and condition-dependent effects.