INCIDENCE OF ECTO AND ENDO PARASITES IN INDIAN PEAFOWLS (PAVO CRISTATUS) FROM THANJAVUR CAUVERY DELTA REGION OF TAMIL NADU

Free-range peafowls are commonly affected with mixed parasitic infections, which need to be diagnosed and treated for maintaining the eco-biological balance. The present paper investigated the ecto and endo parasitic infections in peafowls (Pavo cristatus) from various parts of Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. Twelve peafowls of different age and sex were brought with different clinical signs during 2022-24. Faecal samples revealed the presence of eggs of helminths Ascaridia sp., Capillaria sp., Hymenolepis sp., gravid segments of Raillietina cesticillus and protozoal infection with Eimeria pavonina and E.mayurai. The ectoparasites from various body surface were identified as Colphocephalum tausi, Goniodespavonis, Menacanthus sp., Menopon sp., lice and adult and nymphal stages of Haemaphysalis sp., tick.