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This document summarizes a study on the prevalence of ectoparasites in wild and domesticated grey (Francolinus Pondicerianus) and black partridges (Francolinus Francolinus) in Khayber Pakhtoonkhawa, Pakistan. The study aimed to compare the types and prevalence of ectoparasites between wild and domesticated populations of these two partridge species. Ectoparasites were collected from birds using visual examination and dust ruffling methods. The ectoparasites were then identified microscopically. The prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasites was determined and compared between wild and domesticated birds to understand the impact of habitat and domestication on ectoparas
How to write a research proposal
- 1. Ectoparasites in Wild and Domesticated Grey (Francolinus Pondicerianus) and Black Partridges (Francolinus Francolinus) From Khayber Pakhtoonkhawa, Pakistan By Mudasir abas Department of Zoology Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (2019)
- 2. Introduction Birds are economic and effective source of animal proteins produced within the shortest possible time and play a vital role in narrowing down the animal supply protein gap (Pearson, 1995; Khan et al., 2003). Black and grey francolins (Francolinus francolinus and F. pondicerianus) belong to Perdicinae sub family (francolins, partridges and oldworld quails) of the family Phasianidae. Francolins are different from partridges (Snow partridge Lerwa lerwa, Chakor partridge (Alectoris chukar, Seesee partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis occurring in Pakistan). The two francolins occurring in Pakistan are however known as partridges probably because of their resemblances with partridges especially with European grey partridge (Perdix perdix). Genus Francolinus is represented by five species viz., black francolin Francolinus francolinus, painted francolin F. pictus, Chinese francolin F. pintadeanus, Grey francolin F. pondicerianus and swamp francolin F. gularis. Both grey and black francolin are distributed widely throughout Pakistan; they are found in the Indus plains, plentiful in undisturbed tropical thorn forests and occur throughout lower hills of Makran and Lasbela in Balochistan Province. They can be encountered in sand dune deserts like Cholistan in Bahawalpur district. They also occur on the Potohar Plateau and in the Salt Range in Punjab Province. In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, they are found in lower protected hills (part of Manglot Wildlife Park) around Cherat and in some parts of Kohat (Johnsgard, 1988). In Asia populations of both these francolin species are declining for which various factors have been speculated such as the loss of food, excessive predation, hunting and and habitat destruction as well as too much use of guns for hunting (Mahmood et al., 2010). Birds, like all other animals, too suffer from a wide range of maladies. In semi-scavenging system, birds are found to be infested with various types of ectoparasites including different species of lice, mites, ticks and fleas (Abedin and Huq, 1977; Rahman et al., 1989). Birds having access to outdoor areas have a greater diversity of ecto and endoparasites (Pandey et al., 1992). Ectoparasites of birds live or penetrate within the skin or even into the air sacs and some live under feathers. The ectoparasites do lower the reproductive success of the birds and during periods of heavy infestation, lower their resistance by weakening them (Panday and Ahluwalia, 1983). They suck blood, interfere with the feed consumption by giving continuous irritation and thus they are associated with emaciation, anemia, allergies, dermatitis and eventually loss of meat and egg production and in worst cases leading to death of the bird (Soulsby, 1982). There is evidence that infestation of ectoparasites causes nestling mortality
- 3. and nest desertion by birds (Wheelwright and Boersma, 1979). In general the increased mortality due to ectoparasites is caused by the loss of blood, which weakens the host, by viral disease or by diseases caused by noxious endoparasites for which arthropods are vectors that act as mechanical or biological agents transmitting a number of pathogens (Mir et al., 1993; Pearson, 1995). Objectives The aim of this study was to report the comparative prevalence of various types of ectoparasites in domesticated and wild black and grey partridges from KPK province of Pakistan.
- 4. Materials and Methods Sample collection Ectoparasite samples will be collected from black and grey partridges from various regions of KPK for examination. Visual examination Visual examination of birds, for the detection of parasites, will be done following Walther and Clayton (1997). Briefly, birds will be immobilized with the help of surgical tape. The feathers of the head, the neck, under the wings, body and legs will be raised and thoroughly examined for ectoparasites. Magnifying glass will be used to observe ectoparasites having less than 1mm body size. The ectoparasites will be counted and transferred to the labeled bottles containing 50% ethanol and later on will be identified by using taxonomic keys (Shanta et al., 2006). Dust ruffling For the collection and quantification of ectoparasites load from live birds, method of Walther and Clayton (1997) will be followed. Live birds should be held in one hand over the colored, smooth collecting surface and will be dusted with an insecticidal powder (0.1% Permethrin) followed by feather ruffling. To prevent irritation, eyes of the birds should be protected. After each bout of ruffle ectoparasites will be collected, counted, transferred to 50% ethanol containing viols and will be identified by using taxonomic keys. Microscopic examination The collected ectoparasites will be microscopically analyzed for identification. Lateron ectoparasites will be dehydrated each in 50, 70, 90% and absolute ethanol for 5 to 10 minutes and stained with Borax carmine and mounted on slides with Canada balsam for long term preservation following Sayed and Saleem (2000). Parasitic prevalence and mean intensity of all ectoparasites will be determined.
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