SURVEY OF PODOKNEMIDOKOPTIASIS IN LOCALLY DOMESTICATED MARKET CHICKENS (Gallus gallus domesticus ) IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Biu, A.A., Ahmed, H.A., Konto, M. and Paul B.T.

Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri

E-mail: biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Knemidokoptic mange in domesticated chicken results from infestations with any of several species of barely macroscopic mites (Acari: Knemidokoptidae). A survey of scaly leg mites by Knemidokoptes mutans was carried out between April and September, 2008. A total of 4820 local chickens were examined and showed a prevalence of 43 (0.89%), out of which 31 (1.1%) were female and 12 (0.6%) were male; 38 (1.2%) were adults and 5 (0.3%) were young chickens (p<0.05).  Twenty (20) (46.5%) of the birds exhibited symptoms of weight loss, 8 (1.9%) had lameness, 8 (1.9%) with rough swollen legs with scaly appearance from the tibio-tarsal joint downwards and 7 (1.6%) had deformed legs (p<0.05). Histopathologically scaly leg lesions were characterized by hyperkeratosis and acanthosis and tissue sections showed mites and their eggs in the deeper stratum corneum, associated with extensive mononuclear and eosinophilic infilterations.This study suggests thatK. mutans infestation is present in local chickens in Maiduguri, and are associated with clinicopathological changes

Keywords:  Survey, Gallus gallus domesticus, Podoknemidokoptiasis, Nigeria