Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 122, Dschang, Cameroon; Center for Research on Filariases and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P.O. Box 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 122, Dschang, Cameroon.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2022 Sep;34:100772. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100772. Epub 2022 Aug 5.
Ectoparasite infestations are a major concern in local poultry sector as they cause body weight loss, drop in laying performance and disease transmission. Thus, a study was conducted from April to June 2021 to assess the prevalence and clinical signs of ectoparasites in backyard chickens in Menoua, West region of Cameroon. Ectoparasites were investigated on 400 local chickens. Results showed that out of 400 chickens, 133 (33.3%) were infested with at least one species of ectoparasite. Two chewing lice including Menopon gallinae (26.3%) and Goniocotes gallinae (4.5%) and one blood-feeding louse including Menacanthus stramineus (16.0%) were identified. The prevalence was significantly associated with the sampling site (p < 0.05), with the highest prevalence recorded in Balessing (49.5%), followed by Foreke (38.8%) and Bamendou (27.1%). There was a positive and significant correlation between M. gallinae and M. stramineus (r = 0.329, p < 0.05)), M. gallinae and G. gallinae (r = 0.199, p < 0.05), M. stramineus and G. gallinae (r = 0.103, p < 0.05). Single infestation was the most frequent (19.0%) followed by double infestation which consist of M. gallinae and M. stramineus (9.5%), M. gallinae and G. gallinae (3%), and M. stramineus and G. gallinae (1.5%). The infested chickens exhibited some degree of restlessness, frequent grooming of the feathers associated with skin irritation, itching and mechanical damage on the skin. The skin lesions were localized on the cloaca, thigh, wing, neck and chest areas of the body; petechiae as well as whitish scabs were observed on the lesions. The feathers were ruffled, and the bases of some of the feathers were gnawed as a result of lice bites. In conclusion, chewing lice occur in local chickens in Menoua Division, inducing severe clinical signs. Thus, commercial poultry farms (raising exotic breeds) with access to free range chickens (local chickens) in Menoua Division are exposed to lice infestations from these local chickens. Further investigations are required in the dry season in order to be well acquainted with ectoparasites occurring in the local chickens in the area.
体外寄生虫感染是当地家禽业的一个主要关注点，因为它们会导致体重减轻、产蛋性能下降和疾病传播。因此，一项研究于 2021 年 4 月至 6 月在喀麦隆西部地区的梅努阿进行，旨在评估后院鸡的体外寄生虫流行率和临床体征。对 400 只当地鸡进行了体外寄生虫调查。结果表明，在 400 只鸡中，有 133 只（33.3%）至少感染了一种体外寄生虫。鉴定出两种咀嚼虱，包括鸡皮刺虱（26.3%）和鸡圆羽虱（4.5%）和一种吸血虱，包括鸡栉首蚤（16.0%）。感染率与采样地点显著相关（p<0.05），在巴勒斯（49.5%）记录的感染率最高，其次是福雷克（38.8%）和巴门杜（27.1%）。鸡皮刺虱和鸡栉首蚤（r=0.329，p<0.05）、鸡皮刺虱和鸡圆羽虱（r=0.199，p<0.05）、鸡栉首蚤和鸡圆羽虱（r=0.103，p<0.05）之间存在正相关和显著相关性。单一感染最为常见（19.0%），其次是双重感染，包括鸡皮刺虱和鸡栉首蚤（9.5%）、鸡皮刺虱和鸡圆羽虱（3%）以及鸡栉首蚤和鸡圆羽虱（1.5%）。受感染的鸡表现出一定程度的不安，频繁梳理羽毛，伴有皮肤刺激、瘙痒和皮肤机械损伤。皮肤病变位于泄殖腔、大腿、翅膀、颈部和胸部区域；病变处观察到瘀点和白色结痂。羽毛蓬乱，一些羽毛的基部被虱子叮咬。总之，咀嚼虱在梅努阿地区的本地鸡中发生，引起严重的临床体征。因此，梅努阿地区饲养外来品种（养殖外来品种）的商业家禽养殖场（养殖外来品种）容易受到来自这些本地鸡的虱子感染。需要在旱季进行进一步调查，以便更好地了解该地区本地鸡中发生的体外寄生虫。
