Ectofauna parasitária em aves criadas no semi-árido do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Abstract

The birds are frequently parasited by vast fauna of ectoparasites, causing great economical losses, contributing to fall in the eggs production and in the weight gain, inquietude for the direct action on the host, leaving secondary infections susceptible the pathogens transmission causing the death. this study was of notification of ectoparasites found in several birds examined during the period from 2005 to 2007. The diagnosis was accomplished at the Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of UFERSA. Thus, were identified a total of 755 ectoparasites distributed in 109 birds hosts among the species Gallus gallus, American Rhea, Meleagris gallopavo, Numida meleagris, Pavo cristatus, Struthio camelus, Phasianus colchicus, Columba livia and Polyborus plancus, in which were observed parasitism by two or more species. The most frequent ectoparasitism was observed by Lipeurus caponis with 50% and Menopon gallinae was found in 40% of the species of researched birds.