Ectoparasites of free ranging local chickens in urban and peri-urban areas of Morogoro municipality, Tanzania
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Research Gate
Abstract
A free range system of poultry production is an important economical investment to most of the poor
farmers as a source of income and protein, however it faces several challenges including parasitic
diseases such as ectoparasite infestation. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the
prevalence of ectoparasites, as well as to assess the possible predisposing risk factors infesting free-
ranging local chickens in urban and per urban areas in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. Samples were
randomly taken from 144 chickens and age, sex and management practice status of the study population
was simultaneously recorded. An overall 53.5% (77/144) prevalence was recorded in this study and three
common taxa of ectoparasites were identified, which are lice, fleas, and mites. The individual
ectoparasite prevalence were as follows Menopon gallinae 48.6% (70/144) followed by Cnemidocoptes
mutans 16% (23/144), Echidnophaga gallinacean 9.7% (14/144) and Goniodes gigas 5.8% (8/144).
Among the potential predisposing factors assessed, age and management practice was found to be
statistically significantly associated with ectoparasitic infestation (p< 0.05). However, sex was not found
statistically significantly associated with the level of infestation (p> 0.05) . This study reveals that
ectoparasites are highly prevalent in free-ranging local chickens in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Ectoparasite, Prevalence, Infestation, Chickens, Risk factors, Morogoro