11/7/14 Parasites An organism that lives off another Common External Parasites of Chickens Most animals and humans have them James Hermes, Ph.D. Internal and External Extension Poultry Specialist and Head Advisor Multi-species hosts or Species - specific Department of Animal Sciences Oregon State University The parasitic relationship is usually good for the parasite detrimental to the host Relationships of organisms of different species Parasites or Symbiotes Symbiosis Neutralism No apparent affect on either Related to a parasite is a symbiote Amensalism One harms another with no benefit Competition An organism that lives with another Mutual determent Commensalism Benefit for one without effect to the other The symbiotic relationship is usually good or at Mutualism Both benefit worst neutral for both organisms. Parasitism Antagonism One benefits at the expense of another What are the common ectoparasites of Poultry? Mites Lice Fleas Ticks 1 11/7/14 Mites Lice Fluff Louse Important Types Red Mites Northern Fowl Mites Less Common Shaft Louse Scaley Leg Mites Depluming Mites Head Louse Chicken mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) Life Cycles Roost Mites, Red Chicken Mite Poultry problem Worldwide Can feed on Humans Nocturnal Feeders – Blood Suckers Do not live on the birds Spend days in cracks and crevices of the chicken house Northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) Most common parasite Chicken mites Cooler Temperature Blood feeders Come from wild birds, rodents, other animals Clinical Signs Heavy infestation – Anemia Reduced production and Fertility Loss of production Listless birds Reduced Growth Rate Pale combs and wattles Reduced feed intake Reduced wt gain Will bite humans - Itching 2 11/7/14 Scaly-leg mites (Knemidokoptes mutans) Very small 1/100th inch Burrow under leg scales feeding on the soft tissue Scales appear to erupt from the legs Birds may lose toes Can live off birds for a while Treatment – smother mites Cover with oil or petrolatum Live on the birds – Vent area – Dirty appearance Poultry lice - Biting Lice Chicken body louse (Menacanthus stramineus) Infested birds Shaft louse (Menopon gallinae) Agitated because of the skin irritation Blood sucking lice – only on mammals Damaged feathers Species-specific and cannot survive on humans Appear to be in general poor health. reduced feed intake, slowed body growth, Remain on the birds – eggs attached to feathers decreased fertility, declining egg production. After hatching the remain for months (survive off birds for only a few days) Do not leave the host bird unless they are moving to another bird, Feed on Skin dander, feather dander, scales Will feed on surface blood Sticktight fleas (Echidnophaga gallinacea) Less-Common Parasites Fowl ticks (Argas persicus) Attach to the skin and wattles on the head of birds Blue bugs soft tick Not species specific – Found on dogs, cats, horses, and humans Hard ticks are normally found on cats and dogs Adults are free-living until it is time to breed, Female fleas attach to the skin around the face Adults are about 1/4 inch in length. lay their eggs 4 weeks for an egg to develop into an adult. Ticks live in the cracks and crevices of a poultry house. Ticks in various stages of development will feed on a host. Females lay 50 to 100 eggs in poultry house after every blood meal. 3 11/7/14 Blue bugs (Ticks) Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) Nocturnal Larvae seek out a host attach themselves and feed for 4 to 7 days. Bedbugs crawl onto birds and suck their blood Larvae then fall off the host molt to the nymph stage Bedbugs hide, breed, and lay eggs in the poultry house Nymphs and adults feed only at night in nests, behind nests, under loose boards, and in cracks 15 to 30 minutes After several nymphal molts, the adult tick emerges When disturbed, bed bugs give off a distinct odor similar to that The time from egg to adult is approximately 30 days of stink bugs Adult ticks are resistant to starvation can live for more than a year without feeding . Treatments Cleaning and Pesticides Dusts, Sprays and Strips Carbamates Permethrines Linseed Oil Mite Strips Diatomaceous Poultry house, especially cracks and earth crevices, roosts, walls, and ceilings The birds should also be treated with an insecticide that is approved for poultry. Following label instructions . Spraying your coop and roosts for several days in a row with a mixture of 2 cups water, 1 cup cooking oil and 1 tablespoon dish washing liquid The coop should be sprayed at least once or twice a week for several weeks in conjunction with treating your hens directly. Garlic juice mixture. Poultry scientists in the UK to have a 100% kill rate over 24 hours. Ectoparasites will be a constant problem Treatment and preventative 10 ounces of water Elimination probably not possible 1 ounce of garlic juice 1 teaspoon (total) any combination of these essential oils - bay, cinnamon, clove, coriander, lavender, spearmint and/ Control will continue to be a constant battle or thyme 4 The RED POULTRY MITE, Dermanyssus gallinae, is a very prolific external parasite of birds which can be very difficult to eradicate – partly because the mite can survive for up to eight months between feeds – so they are often in situ, just waiting for the arrival of a new flock! Mites feed largely on blood of the birds, but also on feathers, skin or scales ; each blood feed lasts approximately 1-2 hours after which the mite leave the birds and return to hide in cracks and crevices in the poultry housing, where they lay their eggs, returning to the birds again the following night – hence, it is easy to miss their presence if examining a bird during daylight. Heavy mite infestations in chickens lead to high levels of stress and result in anaemia, reduced egg production and, eventually if not treated, death, so the effects of red mite are of considerable economic importance when considering production costs. Additionally, mite can transmit diseases, such as the chicken pox virus, Newcastle Disease, fowl typhoid and salmonella as well as causing dermatitis and mange. When disturbed, 11/7/14 they will also bite interfering humans and can cause a type of dermatitis. At one time it was thought that mite only tended to live Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism, referred to as the host, and gain an advantage at the expense of the host. There are several external parasites that attack poultry by either sucking blood or feeding on the skin or feathers. In small flocks it is difficult to prevent contact with wild birds (especially English sparrows) and rodents that may carry parasites that can infest poultry. It is important to occasionally check your flock for external parasites. Early detection can prevent a flock outbreak. in wooden structures, but they are now found on NOTE: Brand names appearing in this article are examples only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. Northern Fowl Mites both plastic and metal – anywhere that is as near to their next meal as possible. Nowadays, they are also becoming increasingly common in battery cages, where they cause severe health problems and economic loss. The tiny mite vary in appearance, depending on when they last fed – a mite is only red when it has consumed blood recently and changes colour again through black Figure 1. Where to look for northern fowl mites. Created by Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky. to grey as the interval between feeds increases. When Northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) are the most common external parasite on poultry, especially on poultry in cool weather. Northern fowl mites are blood feeders. Clinical signs of an infestation will vary depending on the severity of the infestation. Heavy infestations can cause anemia due to loss of blood. Anemia is usually accompanied by a decrease in egg production or growth rate, decreased carcass quality, and decreased feed intake. Northern fowl mites will bite humans, causing itching and irritation of the skin. Northern fowl mites are small (1/25th of an inch), have eight legs, and are typically black or brown. To check for northern fowl mites, closely observe the vent area of poultry. Northern fowl mites appear as tiny specks moving quickly on the skin. Sometimes the most obvious indication of an infestation is the presence of eggs and mite fecal material (black specks) in the vent area. checking housing areas for mite, a tell-tale ‘grey ash’ Effective treatment may involve treating all the birds with an insecticide approved for poultry. Be sure to read and follow all label instructions, including details regarding protective equipment the producer must wear and possible withholding time for consumption of meat and eggs from treated birds. Northern fowl mites can reproduce quickly; an egg can develop into a mature egg-laying female in less than a week. None of the recommended materials for treating northern fowl mites kill the eggs. It is necessary, therefore, to re-treat an infected flock every four to seven days. Mites prefer to live on birds, but can survive off the birds for a couple of weeks. It is important to treat the inside of the poultry house, making sure the nesting area, roosts, and any cracks and crevices are treated. around crevices is evidence of mite faeces, but the best Typical insecticides used to control northern fowl mites include Sevin, Prozap Insectrin Dust, PoultryGuard, and Ivermectin. The label for any insecticide chosen to treat poultry should state that the insecticide is approved for use in poultry. Organic insecticides—such as PyTGanic Pro, a pyrethrum-based insecticide derived from chrysantheniums—are also available. Including food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in dust baths is a nontoxic insecticide option.