LICE INFESTATION IN POULTRY BIRDS IN OVIA NORTH EAST, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

A segment of the livestock industry, poultry birds include chicken, turkeys, ducks, and quails. Ectoparasite infestations are a common occurrence in poultry farms. These parasites feed on the skin, feathers, and blood of the birds, which results in illnesses and decreased egg production. Chicken lice is one common instance. The Phthipraptera order includes lice. Iguosa and Senior Staff Quarters (SSQ) in Ovia North East of Edo State are where this study was carried out in July 2023. This study was conducted to determine the species composition of lice in Ovia North East, abundance, species composition and mean intensity.The feathers of 101 hens were carefully held horizontally, in the opposite direction of their anatomical alignment, to expose the lice. The chickens were then hand-selected and inspected for lice. The only lice species identified in both farms were Menacanthus stramineus and Menopon gallinae, with Menacanthus stramineus being the only species on Iguosa Farm. 98.02% of both farms had lice, with M.stramineus having a frequency of 98.04 and M.gallinae having a prevalence of 14.85%. Iguosa had a total of 96.08% lice prevalence, while SSQ had the highest prevalence of 100%. M.stramineus was present in both farms, with no significant difference between them (p>0.1, p=0.127). In order to reduce the prevalence of lice and, especially, to increase poultry output, proper poultry management should be followed. Proper and constant treatment for lice should also be ensured.