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This study was designed to identify the external parasites
and to evaluate their effects on mortality, growth and reproduction of poultry
in the traditional rearing system in the sub-humid zone of Burkina Faso. Identification
of external parasites was done on 500 of each species of chicken, guinea fowls
and turkeys. For the evaluation of the effects of external parasites on the
productivity of poultry, 324 chicks that were 6 weeks of age were randomly divided
into 12 groups of 27 chicks each. Four of the groups was assigned at random
to receive a treatment against external parasites (ET), 4 other groups were
similarly assigned to receive a treatment against external parasites and another
treatment against internal parasites (EIT). The 4 remaining groups were not
treated against parasites (NT). Two mice species Liperus gallinae and
Monopon gallinae have been found on both chicken and turkeys while Goniodes
gigas was the only mice species parasiting chicken. The lice Echidnophaga
gallinacea and the tick Argas persicus have been found to parasite
chicken. Results of productivity trial showed that mortality due to effects
of external parasites amounted to 13.9% of non treated poultry. Live weight
of male birds increased from the base line of 850 g of the non-treated birds
by 9.8% (950±164.3 g) due to treatment against external parasites and
by 44.5% (1250±133.1g) due to treatments against both external and internal
parasites. Live weight of female birds increased similarly from 952.5±238.7
g by only 3.8% (980.5±36.2 g) due to treatment against external parasites
and then by 13.5% (1081.6±160.2 g) due to treatment against both external
and internal parasites. Likewise, age at first egg decreased from 28 weeks to
25 weeks with treatment against external parasites and further to 24 weeks with
both treatments. Egg weight also increased from 47 to 48.0g due to treatment
against external parasites and further to 48.5g due to both treatments. External
parasites increase mortality rate and reduce growth rate of chicken.
