Identification and Prevalence of Ectoparasites in backyard chicken populations, and Associated Risk Factors in Gulomekeda Wereda, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

Despite the multiple benefits that chickens provide in Gulomeked wereda, they suffer from various ectoparasite infestations, leading to poor health and productivity status. However, scientific evidences on the type and occurrence of major chicken ectoparasities and associated risk factors remain scant in remote areas of Tigray such as Gulomekeda wereda of Eastern zone of Tigray (Ethiopia). Accordingly, cross sectional study was conducted to estimate prevalence, identify different species of ecto-parasites infesting backyard chickens and associated risk factors in Gulomekeda wereda. Ectoparasites were collected from wings, head, vent, neck, ear lop, eye lids, feather, wattle, comb, breast and thigh of the chickens and their morphology were identified using stereomicroscopy. Accordingly, an overall 57.50% prevalence of ectoparasites was recorded and six different species of ectoparasites under four orders were identified. Prevalence of 51.83%, 9.00%, 7.17% and 0.83% for lice, soft tick, mites and fleas, respectively were reported. Three species of Lice i.e., Menacanthus stremineus (45.67%), Gonicoites gallinae (10.00%) and Goniodes gigas (2.83%)), one species of soft tick (Argas persicus) (9.00%) and one species of mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) (7.17%)), one species of fleas (Echidnophaga gallinacean (0.83%)), were identified. Higher prevalence rate was recorded in male (70.45%) than female (55.85%), ≤ 3 months age (75.00%), than > 3 months age (55.11%), exotic (60.43%) than local breed (55.62%) chickens. Statistically, there was significant difference between categories of sex (OR=2.04, P< 0.05) and age (OR=2.44, P< 0.05). This study indicated that the major findings by type of poultry ectoparasites were lice, fleas, soft tick and mite whereby the highest prevalence was lice. Regarding risk factors, males and young ages were majorly affected. Therefore, strategic interventions (deworming and acaricide application) should be applied to control and prevent poultry lice, flea, soft tick and mite infestations, to reduce associated impacts.