Common Parasites and their Harmful effect on Birds

Alok Kumar Singh^1#, Deepali Tiwari², Pradeep Kumar³, Jagriti Srivastava⁴ and Nitin D. Hirani⁵

¹Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Rewa

²B.V.Sc & A.H., Student, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Rewa

³Department of Veterinary Parasitology, COVSc & A.H., DUVASU, Mathura

⁴MVSc, Scholar, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, COVSc & A.H., DUVASU, Mathura

⁵Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College, Kamdhenu University, Anand

^#corresponding author- email: alok122@gmail.com

Numerous Parasite causes various diseases in poultry birds and most prevalent problem caused by parasites are mainly by ectoparasite. Parasites are group of arthropods which all animals carry specific parasites which evolve to live on adapted environment of its host. Parasites cause economic losses in poultry industry so main aim of poultry keeper is to reduce parasite to low level to minimize farm losses.

There are mainly two types of parasites i. e. internal parasite which lives inside host body and external parasite which live outside host body.

I.  Internal parasites

A. Helminths 

(I) Round worms:

• Gapeworm
• Syngamus trachea i. e. Gapeworm lives in trachea or windpipe of poultry where it lay eggs and coughed and excreted to transmit disease to other susceptible birds.
• This worm is known as gapeworm since it produce gasping signs in birds where affected poultry show open mouthed breathing known as gapes.
• Incidence of parasite in small flocks has decreased in recent years.

• Capillaria worm
• These are tiny worms known as hairworm which live in intestine. It can complete lifecycle with or without intermediate host mainly earthworm is involved.
• Signs of infestation includes gastrointestinal (GI) signs like diarrhoea, emaciation, haemorrhagic enteritis, decrease egg production with mottled eggs and if untreated may lead to death of birds.

•  Heterakis gallinarum
• It is commonly referred as caecal worm which lives in caecal pouch of birds where plant fermentation of feed takes place.
• This parasite act as carrier of histomonas meleagridis which causes black head disease in poultry but also affect chicken.
• Transmission occurs by ingestion of caecal worm eggs present in litter by birds. Heterakis eggs sometimes get affected by protozoa histomonas and these infected carried by earthworm which causes severe infestation in flock.

• Ascarid worm
• Roundworms also called ascarids are most common intestinal parasite found in poultry.
• These parasites are species specific so little chance of cross reactivity among poultry species.
• Ascarids has simple lifecycle and get complete within 35 days and mainly affect digestive capacity and block intestinal lumen due to excess roundworms

• Trichostrongylid worm
• These parasite lives in intestine of host causing digestive issues

(II). Tape worms

• Correctly cestode which are flatten, ribbon shaped, segmented worm.
• As worm increase in size segment break off to excrete in faeces and appears as grain of rice.
• These worms have indirect lifecycle and snails, slugs, beetle, earthworm act as intermediate host.
• Affected birds remain unthriftiness; lose weight and if in huge amount cause heavy mortality in flock.

B. Protozoan Parasites        

(1)   Histomonas meleagridis

• It is single celled, free living protozoa which causes blackhead disease in turkey.
• This parasite causes infection in turkey, peasant, quail, peacock, guinea fowl etc. affecting liver causing bright yellow diarrhoea.
• Heterakis gallinae act as intermediate host of Histomonas where concurrent infection occurs in host.
• Regular deworming of birds with suitable dewormer may cause reduce incidence of blackhead disease in poultry.
• Immediate action should be taken once symptoms appear in bird like diarrhoea as disease may end up leading to death within 2 days.
• Treatment is done mainly by dimetridazole mixed in water but banned for welfare of turkey, duck ie from meat producing species.

(2)   Hexamita meleagridis

• It is protozoa found in gut of chicken causing diarrhoea, unthriftiness in chicken, turkey, pheasant, and poultry.

 (3)  Trichomonas gallinae

• Another protozoon which causes oral canker in turkey, hens, pheasant.
• White or yellow colour cheesy substance get deposited in oral cavity, throat  which can transmit infection  bird to bird through feed and water .
• Always check for this before buying birds and keep drinker clean and vitamin A should be supplemented in feed.

II. External parasites

(1) Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)

• Red in colour, 1 mm blood sucking parasite which causes anaemia in hens.
• Parasite mainly feed during night which causes its easy control and can transmit disease from bird to bird. 
• Mites can be detected by whitish powder seen on cracks, crevices, on wooden surfaces and eggs with tiny spots of blood over surfaces.
• Mites can survive for almost year without feeding and remain grey in colour after hunger it feed on host blood and turns red. Severe blood loss of animal causes anaemia, debility and sometimes death.
• Red mites are nocturnal feeders but live on roof of hut ie of  hen house and  during day hours it hide from sunlight and crawl during night time for feeding mainly these places provide suitable hiding place and difficult to remove mites .
• Either replace roof with onduline sheet which is corrugated bitumen sheet as it prevent mites concentration over area or by clear perspex on top to prevent breeding place for mites due to high light. Avoid wild birds in poultry house as can carry mites with them so vigilance is required.
• Breeding cycle of red mites are for 10 days starting from laying egg , batch to breeding mainly during summer bright weather  where mites can survive for month without blood feed and turns grey and after finding suitable host feed immensely on their blood causing severe blood loss in host .

Prevention and control

• Synthetic permethrin can be effectively used to control red mite population. It can be sprayed on birds before suspected for mite infestation. Herbal products are least effective hence not preferred.
• Some breeder prefers flea powder for dust bath but does not show good result in control.
• Blow lamp can be used to remove mites from cracks and crevices. Pyrethrum based flea powder to be sprayed on roof and suspected areas for control of red mite population.
• Diatomaceous earth (DE) can be used effectively to kill mites as it dessicate exoskeleton of red mites. Hence proper approved licensed DM to be used for control of mite population.

(2) Northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum )

• These mites are similar to red mites in shape and size. But they complete there entire lifecycle in bird body hence survival depends host, so early complete there lifecycle and severly affecting host health leading to ultimate death if remained untreated.
• Mites generally hide near ear canal and mainly in crusted area in animal hence proper spraying over surface by pyretherium based powder for control is required.
• Cockerels are majority affected birds infested birds look dirty with patches and anxious with stunted growth hence proper inspection should be done to control spread of infection to other birds.

Prevention and control

• These mites generally spread from birds to birds not carried by wild birds to premises hence it is not major route of spread.
• There is no licensed product for spraying hence diamateous earth can be used.
• Susceptible species birds should be checked regularly for parasite specially white feather birds which appears as dirt tinge stain mainly under tails mites hide promptly.
• Proper isolation and suggested treatment to be done for control.

(3)   Common chicken louse (Menopon gallinae)

• This louse is flat, yellow, fast moving, about 2 mm long mainly seen under vent or under wings.
• These mites move quickly over host body and feed on host feather debris and skin. And is host specific and complete it’s lifecycle on host without biting human beings.
• Menopon gallinae is less life threating than other mites as it does not effect host health severly but affect during mating as mite eggs cluster appears as sugar sprinkled near vent area which act as barrier during mating between birds.
• For control pick up eggs by plucking or clipping feather  and  safely discard it to safe place as egg can hatch falling on ground  can act as source of infection to other birds.
• Dusting with louse powder will control louse infestation which worse in winter, autumn. Heavy infestation causes decrease in egg production and causes listlessness.

Prevention and control

• Dust with pyrethrum based louse powder.

(4)   Scaly leg mites (Cnemidocoptes mutans)

• Scaly mites causes intense irritation by burrowing under scales of legs which initially white film replaced by white or yellow debris over legs.
• In heavy infestation these crust reduce blood supply to limb causing necrosis and gangrenous limb, whitish areas can be easily detected initially.
• Affected limbs are foul smelling like musty, dead mice which should be treated.

Prevention and control

• Mites infection can be controlled by dipping legs in petroleum jelly which cutoff oxygen supply to mites ultimately leading to death of mites.
• Earlier diesel or kerosene oil used but it affects bird health.
• Organic control is by dipping birds leg once in week in wide open surgical spirit jar which is repeated for 3 weeks.
•  Generally scales and crust are mounted once in a year so along with feathers mites drop off which should be removed from area. Heavy infested leg may take year to look normal again.

(5)   Cnemidocoptes

• Cnemidocoptes gallinae (depluming mites), mainly affect feather portion of body and causing itching and are easily pulled out by birds while, Cnemidocoptes mutans (scaly mites), affects leg region and causes irritation and inflammation and displace the scales. Occasionally cause feather loss around head and neck region.

• Applying louse powder
• Louse powder is effective in spraying by one person it suitable technique is used hold bird with one hand and hand downward or place on back over applying table and with other hand rub powder over chest and suspected areas over vent, under wings, abdomen, back and neck.
• Thoroughly apply powder for complete application and proper precaution should be taken by applicator as wear gloves and wash hands afterwards with suitable disinfectant.

Economic impact

• Internal and external parasite causes economic losses which should be minimize for maximum outcome.
• Proper examination of birds in flock before introduction into new click to be done
• In case of suspected birds licensed product to be used for control and eradication.

Birds health should be noticed early for better eradication and maximum outcome from bird farming.