Prevalence of ectoparasites attacking helmet guineafowl, Numidamele agridis, in Sokoto, north-western Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites infesting the grey-breasted guinea fowls in Sokoto, north-western Nigeria for a period of one year, July 2010 to June 2011. In the study, the ectoparasites were recovered from the birds by dust-ruffling technique and identified using light microscope following clearing in lactophenol. From a total of 165 birds of various ages examined, 19 species of ectoparasites were recovered. They included 9 species of chewing lice as follows: Menacanthus cornutus with a prevalence of 84%, Lipeurus tropicalis 68%, Lipeurus caponis 20%, Amyrsidea powelli 80%, Goniodes gigas 70%, Goniodes fimbriatus 70%, Goniocotes gallinae 68%, Cuclotogas teroccidentalis 10%, Numidicolaan tennatus 45%;six species of mites; Rivoltasiabi furcata 20%, Epidermoptes bilobatus 20%, Megniniacu bitalis/Megninia tetraonis 65%, Bdellonys susbursa 45%, Cnemidocop tesmutans 15%; three species of ticks: Argaspersicus (Iarvae) 30%, Amblyomma variegatum (larvae and nymphs) 6%, Haemphy salishoodi 4%, and a species of flea: Echidno phagagallinacea 12%. Ectoparatises fluctuated seasonally with overall prevalence higher in the hot dry season (p<0.01) and warm wet season (p<0.05) than the cool dry harmattan season. It was striking that classical clinical infestations were seldom seen despite widespread occurrence of heavy burdens.

Keywords: ectoparasites, guineafowls, semi-arid area, Sokoto, seasons