Isolation and Identification of Lice on Some Species of Columbidae Family

| There are many species of chewing lice (Mallophaga) that regularly parasitize on birds causing many symptoms such as: general weakness, developmental atrophy of somepartsof body, itching, and discomfort as well as blood problems related to blood. Among the most important of these species: Columbicola columbae, Menopon gallinae, Goniocotes gallinae, Cuclutogaster heterographus and Menacanthus stramineus. In this study, authors were able to review most of the local and international studies related to the diagnosis (classification) of lice, especially those infested birds from some species of Columbidae family, The current study findings only two species of lice Columbi colacolumbae (Linnaeus 1758) and Menacanthus sp. (Neumann, 1912) from some species of Columbidae family in Baghdad city, Iraq. The aim of this study was to create a database and put an important reference for all researchers and authors whoplan to study this field more comprehensively in the future.


Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences
September 2019 | Volume 7 | Issue 9 | Page 807 life CyCle Mallophaga develops by gradual metamorphosis. Females will typically lay (150-300) eggs over an of (2-3) weeks. The eggs, commonly known as (nits), are oblong and approximately 1mm long. The eggs are stick to the hairs or feathers of the host with a secretion from the female accessory gland. The eggs typically hatch several days or up to three weeks from the time they are laid. The nymphs that hatch from the eggs resemble the adults except for their smaller size and lighter color. These nymphs go through three nymph instars during a 2-3 weeks period. After these three instars, they are considered adults. Most adult species are light tan to brown and are usually 1-4 mm in length although some livestock species can grow to be 5-7 mm, and some wild bird species can even get to 10 mm. (Richard and David, 2000;Hogsette et al., 2003).
As mentioned above, most species of bird lice (Mallophaga) target a specific species of bird and mammal. In other words, a certain species of lice prefer to parasitism on a particular species of birds or mammals. But more of the kind can live on the same host. Some species of lice that can parasitize body of birds that called Body lice for example: Menacanthus stramineus, this species usually lives around the feathers of the bird's tail, chest and thighs, and puts its eggs in groups at the bottom of the feathers.
Other species of lice can parasitize on the feathers that called Lice feather for example: Menopon gallinae lives on the feathers and puts lay eggs alone in the bottom of the feathers.Lice cause discomfort, itching, general weakness, tension, reduced egg production, feather damage, loss of quality and, dwarfism in small birds. The presence of lice can be distinguished by highlighting the feathers inside and bottom and are disposed of by the use of powder or anti-exoparasitic spray bottles (Eldridge and Edman, 2000).

the Current study findings
In this study by collecting and exam some species of Columbidae family from many regions of Baghdad city, were recorded only two species of lice: (Linnaeus 1758): that belong to Phthiraptera: Ischnocera, is an ectoparasite that parasitized on birds and especially Pigeons, wingless and dorso-ventrally flattened, eyes are not developed, it is long and slender with a more flattened appearance than many other

Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences
September 2019 | Volume 7 | Issue 9 | Page 808 louse species. This species of lice has a presence two bladelike hairs (setae) and thin antennae with five segments on the anterior part of head. It can develop to grow to be from (2 -3) mm long and are black or brown in color, (Figure 1).Columbicola columbae also has an extension on the front or anterior portion of head, which are in contact with feathers hair of the host (Ash, 1960;Crespo and Vickers, 2012). B-Menacanthus sp. (Neumann, 1912): That belong to Phthiraptera order, family of Menoponidae, it is a genus of biting lice living and feeding on bird feathers (blood). They parasitize on many birds, including poultry, female lays eggs mostly in the birds neck average (1.5) egg/day, the small contour neck feather and nape are covered with so many eggs , Eggs hatch in (4-5) d with a (14) day required for maturation from nymph to adult. Identification of this species is largely uncertain andstill discovering (Stockdale and Raun, 1965;Soulsby,1982) (Figure 2).

AcKnowlEdgmEntS
We thanked The Lecturer Mouhammed A. Gazwan (University of Baghdad) for helping in collection the samples of lice from wild pigeons.And Assistant Professor Dr. Hanaa H. Al Safar (Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum/ University of Baghdad) for diagnosis the lice.

conFlIct oF IntErESt
There is no conflict of interest.

AuthorS contrIButIon
Both authors carried out the diagnosis and photo the samples, then collection the references and wrote the manuscript.