A study of ectoparasites on Indian Peacocks in Sistan Region, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran: With new records

Ectoparasites are a common and important cause of pruritic skin diseases and hypersensitivity disorders in animals, as well as some ectoparasites are vectors of a wide range of important zoonotic diseases worldwide, such as borreliosis, bartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis anaplasmosis, yersiniosis, tularemia. The lice (Insecta:Phthiraptera) are permanent obligatory ectoparasite of a diverse selection of birds and mammals with a worldwide distribution that cause of skin disorders and these are also capable of disease transmission and can cause lifethreatening anemia in young or debilitated animals. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of lice infestation in Indian peacocks in Sistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. For this aim, 13 peacocks )2 males and 11 females were examined carefully for chewing lice on the body surfaces, leg, neck and wings. All lice were collected from the feathers of the head and neck of the birds and placed in tubes with 70% alcohol,then cleared in (KOH) 10% and fixed in Canada balsam. According to the results of microscopic examination performed on the lice species of Indian peacock; one species was identified, namely: Goniodes pavonis. They are large lice, about 2.6-3mm in length, Cephalic Length: 0.6 1 ± 0.2, Cephalic Width: 0.85 ± 0.2, Thoracic Length: 0.4±0.3, Abdominal length: 1.6± 0.4, Total Length: 2.6± 0.4 . Lice species was commonly observed on the feathers of the head and neck region of the birds. Of the 30 specimens collected, from the infested peacock, 21 adults and 9 larvae were identified. The overall prevalence of lice infestation was 100%. This species was reported for the first time from Indian peacock in Iran. Considering that these birds are importance to visitors of zoo visitors, and the possible contamination of ectoparasites parasites will cause the loss of this beauty, the health is important andthis information can be useful in the controling and treatmenting.

Keywords:

Lice , Pheasant , Parasite , Goniodes pavonis , Sistan