External and Internal Parasites Exam 2

what are ectoparasites?

external parasites

what are mites, lice, and sticktight fleas classified as?

ectoparasites

what are some examples of mites?

northern fowl mite, chicken/roost mite, scaly leg mite

what is the common name for Ornithonyssus sylviarum?

northern fowl mite

what is the common name for Dermanyssus gallinae?

chicken/roost mite

what is the common name for Knemidokoptes mutans?

scaly leg mite

what do mites feed on?

blood, feathers, skin

how are mites spread?

direct contact or fomites

how are mites controlled?

treat bird and environment

what is the most important external parasite of caged layers/breeding chickens in the US?

northern fowl mite

where will a northern fowl mite spend its entire life cycle?

on the bird

what color are adult northern fowl mites?

dark red to black

T or F: northern fowl mite adults are easily seen

false

where on the body of the chicken will northern fowl mites be found?

vent, tail, legs

what do heavy infestations of northern fowl mites cause?

weight loss, decrease in egg production, anemia, death

what are two other names for the chicken mite?

red mite and roost mite

T or F: chicken mites only feed during the daytime

false

where are chicken mites typically found when they aren't on the bird?

in the cracks of poultry houses

how long can a chicken mite live off of a bird for?

2-3 weeks

what do heavy infestations of chicken mites cause?

weight loss, decrease in egg production, anemia, death

where on the chicken body are scaly leg mites seen?

tunnels into tissue under leg scales around comb/wattle

where will the scaly leg mite spend its entire life cycle?

in the skin of the bird

what types of birds are often affected by scaly leg mites?

older birds

what are the signs of scaly leg mites?

skin becomes thickened/crusted, lameness, loss of appetite

how many different types of lice species can affect poultry?

40+

where is lice most likely to be found on a chicken?

under the wings and around the vent

how do lice vary from each other?

color, size, preferred area of body they affect

T or F: lice are very difficult to see with the naked eye

false

T or F: lice are smaller than mites

false

what are nits?

louse eggs

where are nits found on a chicken?

along base of feathers

where do lice complete their entire life cycle?

on the bird

what do lice feed on?

dander and feathers

what type of appearance do lice have?

moth eaten

what do lice cause in the chicken?

irritation, stress, decrease in egg production

how are lice transmitted?

direct contact or fomites

in what types of birds are lice a problem in?

young birds, birds sick with other diseases

where on a chickens body are sticktight fleas found?

head or vent

what do sticktight fleas cause?

skin irritation, ocular trauma, possible blindness, anemia

what is the more common name for Cimex lectularius?

bedbugs

what is the more common name for Argas persicus?

fowl ticks

what are some key characteristics of bedbugs and fowl ticks?

feed on blood at night, bite causes redness/irritation, anemia can be caused

where on a chickens body are flies/maggots most likely to be found?

vents

how can ectoparasites be treated?

treat bird/environment, dust baths, powder, sprays, oils, pour on, evaluate flock management/hygiene

what is used for dust baths?

koalin clay, diatomaceous earth

what types of powders are used?

premethrin, cabaryl

what type of oil should be used?

mineral

what are two types of GI parasites that chickens can have?

helminths, coccidiosis

what is another name for nematodes?

roundworms

what is the most common type of roundworm in chickens?

Ascaridia galli

what is another name for cestodes?

tapeworms

how can GI helminths affect a chicken?

affect weight gain and egg production

what type of life cycle do GI Helminthiasis have?

direct

how are GI Helminthiasis transmitted?

fecal-oral

what type of life cycle do cestodes have?

indirect

who are the intermediate hosts of cestodes?

invertebrates

what will GI Helminthiasis thrive with?

poor sanitation, overcrowding, moist/warm environment for eggs, overuse of anti-parasiticides

T or F: GI Helminthiasis eggs can remain viable in the soil for years

true

what are some typical signs associated with GI Helminthiasis?

unthriftiness, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, emaciation, death

how are GI Helminthiasis diagnosed?

oocytes in fecal flotation, worms/segments in feces, adult worms in GI on post-mortem

what is the treatment/prevention for GI Helminthiasis?

improve sanitation, rotate pasture, kill intermediate hosts

what can be used for prevention of roundworms?

pumpkin

what is Heterakis gallinarum?

nematode aka roundworm, cecal worm of chickens

what can Heterakis gallinarum cause in the chicken?

inflammation, necrosis of cecum

when are Heterakis gallinarum infections highest?

warm/rainy season

what is the life cycle of Heterakis gallinarum?

earthworms ingest eggs passed in poultry feces, worms/soil are eaten by chickens

what is Histomonas meleagridis?

protozoan parasite, lives within Heterakis spp eggs

what is Histomonas meleagridis released from?

maturing Heterakis larvae in ceca

what does Histomonas meleagridis cause in chickens?

weakness, anorexia, diarrhea, cyanotic head aka turkey blackhead, necrosis of liver, cecal inflammation with ulcerations

T or F: Histomonas meleagridis causes low mortality in turkeys

false, high

T or F: Histomonas meleagridis causes high morbidity/low mortality in chickens

true

what is the treatment for Histomonas meleagridis?

there is none

what is the prevention for Histomonas meleagridis?

limit contact between turkeys and chickens

what type of parasite is coccidiosis?

a protozoan

how is coccidiosis transmitted?

fecal-oral

what type of life cycle does coccidiosis have?

direct or indirect

what can coccidiosis cause in chickens?

damage to intestine, decrease in growth rate/weight loss, mild/severe diarrhea, death

how is coccidiosis diagnosed?

seeing occytes on fecal flotation