Fauna, expansion, and vertical distribution of ectoparasites in poultry and wild birds in Central Tajikistan

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the fauna, expansion, and vertical distribution of ectoparasites in poultry and wild birds in Central Tajikistan.

Materials and methods. The research was conducted in 2014–2024 in the Department of Parasitology of the E. N. Pavlovsky Institute of Zoology and Parasitology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Ectoparasites were collected from domestic chickens, pigeons, rock pigeons, tree sparrows, Spanish sparrows, house sparrows, Senegal turtle doves, rose-colored starlings, barn swallows, common mynas, and rock partridges. A total of 3,232 domestic fowls and 307 wild birds of different sexes and age groups from 290 poultry houses and 229 wild bird nests were examined. A total of 6,756 specimens of ectoparasites were collected including 2,664 Argas persicus ticks and 4,092 specimens of other ectoparasites. Common methods were used to collect scientific material.

Results and discussion. The examination of 3,232 domestic fowls and wild birds found 7 ectoparasite species in 1,372 birds with the infestation rate being 42.4% as follows: Argas percicus Oken, 1818, Argas reflexus Fabricius, 1794, Dermanyssus gallinae De Geer, 1778, Knemidocoptes laevis Furstenberg 1870, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758, Menopon gallinae Linnaeus, 1758, and Lipeurus caponis Linnaeus, 1758, which belong to Arthropoda Gravenhorst, 1843. Argas percicus were found in 460 birds, which was 33.5%; Argas reflexus in 10 birds, 0.7%; Dermanyssus gallinae in 263 birds, 19.1%; Knemidocoptes laevis in 91 birds, 6.6%; Cimex lectularius in 35 birds, 2.5%; Menopon gallinae in 404 birds, 29.4%, and Lipeurus caponis in 109 birds, 7.9%.