Certain species of mallophaga (bird lice)‎ occurring on domestic pigeons (columba livia domestica gmelin, 1789)‎ in Erbil City-Iraq

Abstract EN

Pigeons are a source of food, and used as pets, cultural and peace symbols.

They also make good laboratory animal, poultry are attacked by several species of biting lice.

The main objective of the current study was to determine and identify the prevalence and intensity of infestation with abundance of individual species of chewing lice on certain domestic pigeons of Erbil City-Kurdistan Region-Iraq.

During the period from the beginning of October 2008 to the end of October 2009, a total of 40 domestic pigeons were obtained from animal market Erbil, the feathers were examined by using magnifying lenses and dissecting microscope.

The ectoparasites were collected in small vials and fixed in 70% ethanol for further identifications.

Three different species of chewing lice were reported [Goniocoites gallinae from the head and neck (89.3%), Menacanthus stramineus from the breast skin (67.9%) and Columbicola columbae from the Wing and tail feather (32.1%)] with the overall prevalence 70.0%.

The pigeons had higher prevalence of double 15 (37.5%) compared with single 7 (17.5%) and triple 6 (15%), whilst 12 (30 %) of the examined pigeons were uninfested.