Environmental Diagnostic Study on Ectoparasite Infestations in Domestic Chickens in Tal Afar, Nineveh

Abstract

Between August 2022 and January 2023, specimens of ectoparasites found on domestic chickens were gathered in the Tal Afar district, resulting in a cumulative infection rate of 29.72%. The data indicated that the chickens were afflicted by one variety of tick Argas persicus and two species of lice (Columbicola columbae, Hohorstiella lata), with infection percentages standing at 5.45% for ticks and 50.90% and 43.63% for the individual lice species, respectively. The analysis further revealed a spike in infection rates during the moist conditions of November, peaking at 36%, closely followed by October at 35.89%. Conversely, September witnessed the lowest incidence rate, with a recorded percentage of 23.91%.