Ectoparasites

ECTOPARASITES

  • Arthropods are invertebrates with hard shells and pair of articulated legs.
  • Fleas, lice and flies have three pair of legs and mites have four pairs.

Air sac mite

  • Sternostoma tracheacolum, is a air sac mite, which spent its complete life cycle on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract canary and finches are most susceptible to this disease.
  • The clinical signs include difficult in breathing through an open beak, coughing, sneezing, clicking sounds, nasal discharge, loss of voice.
  • Examination of tracheal washings and exudates under low-power microscope will reveal the mites.
  • Affected birds are placed in a cardboard box or covered cage and 4% Malathion powder is dusted into the enclosure for at least 5 minutes.
  • The treatment is repeated once weekly for 4-6 week.

Cnemodocoptes spp.

  • Cnemodocoptes spp cause dermatitis of beak, usually starts from that angle of the beak and spreads to other area of the had or body (horn of the beak, ear, eyelids, then the legs and cloaca).
  • Later, in the course of the disease, it may spread to the feathered parts of the body.
  • Microscopic examination of crest may reveal the parasite.
  • Dichlorvos pest strips placed around a cage are highly effective in mild cases.
  • Liquid paraffin, petroleum jelly, crotamiton and mesulphan provide good penetration and dissolution of hyperkeratic tissue when extensive lesions are present.
  • Dietary improvement (green rich in vitamin A) and mineral supplementation aid in treating the disease.
  • When beak deformities occur, they must be trimmed frequently to all the birds to eat.
  • Topical treatment alone is usually not recommended because it is messy and the bird may ingest the medicant while peering its feathers.
  • Aerosol treatment can be carried out using a nebulizing apparatus and the following mixture: 20 ml Domoso, 20 cc sterile water 1 cc Tylan and 4 cc Malathion (95% solution). 

Cnemodocoptes sp.

Red or roost mite

  • Red or roost mite: is a temporal, eight legged common parasite that feeds only at night and hides during the day in cracks ad cage corners and under droppings.
  • Clinical signs are anemia, debility usually in young birds.
  • Most frequently affected are canaries, finches and other small passerines; Budgerigars and other parrots are rather resistant.
  • Treatment is Dichlorvas pest strips, cleaning the cage with 5% hot washing soda, application of malathion, lindane.

Ticks, lice

  • Ticks: The larval and nymph stages of soft ticks hide during the day; therefore birds should be sprayed with suitable acaricides during the night at 2 weeks intervals.
  • This treatment must be followed by thorough sanitation of the surrounding, especially of moist dark areas.
  • Adult ticks attached onto birds can be removed by forceps.
  • To prevent breaking off the Head of the tick, cover the tick with a piece of cotton soaked in ether or chloroform.
  • Louse infestation cause poor plumage, pruritus and frequent vigorous feather chewing.
  • Pyrethrum (0.5-2%) is a suitable drug because of its less side effect. 0.5% Carbaryl powder can be used by placing the bird in a plastic bag, leaving only the head exposed, once every 7-10 days until infestation is cleared.
  • Mouth infestation may be treated by hanging a dichlorvos pest strip around the cage.
Last modified: Thursday, 7 June 2012, 10:35 AM