Poultry Improvement Project

External and Internal Parasites

Definition of Parasites

• Parasites are organisms living in, on, or at the expense of another living organism.

• A wide variety of external and internal parasites attack poultry.

• The prevention and control of parasites is one of the cheapest and most desirable way to increase poultry production.

External Parasites

• Mites– Common red or roost mites– Northern fowl mites

• Lice

• Flies

Mites

• Common red or roost mites-• Symptoms include reduce egg production and

retarded growth.

• Prevent mites with good sanitation and examination of birds.

– Also control sparrows in the house.

– Spray insecticides in the house.

Mites

• Northern Fowl Mite-A major poultry parasite in the poultry industry.

• Symptoms include droopy appearance, pale condition, and listless.

• Prevention– Control sparrows in the house.

– Use an insecticide in the house.

Lice

• Affects all poultry and there are more than 40 species of lice.

• Symptoms include frequent picking, pale head and legs, and loss of weight.

• Prevent buy purchasing poultry free from lice.

• Treat with an insecticide such as malathion.

Flies

• Treat with insecticides such as Dichlorvos.

Internal Parasites

• Roundworms

• Tapeworms

Internal Parasites

• Roundworms• Symptoms are

droopiness, and diarrhea.

• Prevention and treatment with deworming productions.

• Careful sanitation is very helpful.

• Tapeworms• There are several

species.

• Symptoms include pale head, legs, and poor flesh.

• Treatment with butynorate.

• Also control by removing inter-mediate insect host(snails, earthworms, etc.)