Journal on New Biological Reports ISSN 2319 – 1104 (Online)

JNBR 4(1) 76 – 78 (2015)

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www.researchtrend.net

First report of new species of Goniodes pavonis

(the chewing lice) from Indian Peacock
in Iran

Maryam Ganjali1, Mojtaba Keighobadi 2*, Nasser Hajipour3

1
Department of parasitology, Faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Zabol,
Zabol, Iran
2
Institute of specific animals, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
3
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University,
Urmia, Iran
*Corresponding author: mojtaba.keyghobadii@yahoo.com

| Received: 28 February 2015 | Accepted: 06 April 2015 |

ABSTRACT

The lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are permanent obligatory ectoparasite of a diverse selection of birds and
mammals with a worldwide distribution. This study provides information on the lice species most commonly
associated with peacock in Sistan, southeast Iran. There is no previous described study on lice infestation of
peacock in Iran. For this aim, Peacock were examined carefully for chewing lice on the body surfaces, only one
lice species was observed namely: Goniodes pavonis. Another species of ectoparasites were not isolated from
the infested peacock during the study period.

Key Words: Goniodes pavonis, Lice, Peacock, Iran.

INTRODUCTION

The Peacocks are omnivore medium sized birds purple colors attract people. The Romans graced
forming the family Phasianidea belonging to order their table with peacock meat and kept the bird
Galliformes. There are two main species of to decorate their land .The peacock feather is used
peacock, the Green Peacock and the Indian Blue in form of ash or water as treatment against the
Peacock which have a strain of white peafowl .The snake bite and to treat various problems of lungs.
Indian Peacock or Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus.) is Parasitic infestation especially lice (Insecta:
a bird species recognized for its beauty, especially Phthiraptera), permanent obligatory ectoparasite of
the male, in particular for the long train made up of a diverse selection of birds and mammals, is a
elongated upper-tail covert feathers with colorful common problems in Indian Peacock (Murari et al.
eyespots.(Linnaeus 1758). On the economic point 2005), which makes losing weight and egg
of view, peacocks have economic significance to production, itching and in severe infestation with
humans and are a wild bird by nature that has sucking lice may cause anemia. According to the
been domesticated in many countries. In Zoos and results of the studies performed on the lice species
parks, people are privileged to see many variations on the birds, approximately 4000 lice species have
of peacocks, blue, green, gold, and white and been detected in the world (Price et al. 2003; Wall

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Ganjali et al. JNBR 4(1) 76 – 78 (2015)
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et al. 2001). Information regarding species of lice

in Indian Peacock in Iran is not available, wherever Cephalic Cephalic Thoracic Abdominal Total
little is known about the prevalence of ectoparasites Length Width Length length Length
and species of lice in birds in Iran (Azizi et al.2013; 0.6 1.± 0.2 0.85 ± 0.2 0.4±0.3 1.6± 0.4 2.6± 0.4
Eslami et al. 2009; Moodi et al. 2013; Nazarbeigy
et al.2012; Rafyi et al .1968; Tavassoli et al.2011).
Therefore, local and updated information is
essential to understand the epidemiology of lice
infestation in Indian Peacock to design rational
control strategies. This information is also
important to prevent the indiscriminant use of
anthelmintics that could lead to anthelmintic
resistance (Thompson 1999; Irwin 2002).So that,
the objective of this study was to determine the
species of lice in Indian Peacock in Sistan,
southeast of Iran.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A Collection of peacocks are kept in Chahnime zoo

in Sistan, southeast part of Iran. Lice were collected
from the 12 Indian peacock (10 female and 2 male),
kept in semi open area in the captivity.In order to
collect the lice, peacock were examined on the
body surfaces between June and September 2013.
All lice were collected from the feathers of the Fig. 1 Goniodes pavonis (Male) derived from
head and neck of the birds and placed in tubes with Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) in Sistan: Enlarged
70% alcohol, then cleared in (KOH)10% and fixed the first segment of antennal.
in Canada balsam (Palma 1978).The lice were
identified based on morphological key described by
Price et al. (2003); Wall et al. (2001); Nasser et al.
(2014). Collected species have been deposited in
the Iranian National Museum of Parasitology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Tehran.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

According to the results of microscopic

examination performed on the lice species of
Indian peacock; one species were identified,
namely: Goniodes pavonis. (Fig.1 and Fig.2). They
are large lice, about 2.6-3mm in length, Table 1
gives the measurements made on this specimen.
Lice species was commonly observed on the
feathers of the head and neck region of the birds. Fig. 2 Goniodes pavonis (Female) derived from
Of the 30 specimens collected, from the infested Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) in Sistan: The first
peacock, 21 adult and 9 larvae were identified. This segment of antennal and posterior.
species is reported for the first time from Indian
peacock in Iran. Amyrsidea minuta were the most prevalent species
It is important to consider that external parasites in in the survey of louse distribution upon the peacock
birds cause feather loss, irritation, injury, Pavo cristatus from an English zoo (Stewart et
nervousness, pruritus and reduction in production al.1996). Several studies have focused on avian
rather than their role as vector (Wall et al. 2001, louse infestations in Iran and Goniodes species
Marco Antonio et al. 2014). This paper reports on have been reported as ectoparasites of different bird
lice infestation caused by Goniodes pavonis in order. Rafyi et al. (1968) reported that poultry,
peacocks kept in a Zoo in South-East Iran. This pigeons, ducks, geese and turkeys can be
species was the first chewing louse described from parasitized by some specific species of Goniodes,
the Indian Peafowl by Linnaeus, 1758 (Nasser et al. Lipeurus, Cuclotogaster, Chelopistes Columbicola,
2014). Goniodes pavonis and Table 1 Anaticola, Menopon, Menacanthus and Trinoton.
Measurements of Goniodes pavonis from Indian Ardalan (1971) detected 10 lice species from
peacock in Sistan (ranges in mm). domestic and wild birds collected in the western
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and southern parts of Iran. Additionally, five lice Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae.
species (Lipeurus caponis, Menopon gallinae, (Laurentii Salvii).
Menacanthus stramineus, Goniodes dissimilis and Marco Antonio C, Jaime A, Narciso Tsac A. S,
Cuclotogaster heterographus) have been reported Jerez- Salas M.P, Edgar B and Lopez JC.
from chicken in Golestan Province, northern Iran 2014. Ectoparasites and their damage in
(Eslami et al. 2009). Girisgin et al. (2013) also Backyard Turkeys in oaxaca’s coast,
found Goniodes sp., on wild birds in northwestern Mexico. EJVM 7: 1-14.
Turkey and reported G. pavonis for the first time in Moodi B, Aliabadian M, Moshaverinia A and
Turkey. Although, this species was reported from Mirshamsi Kakhki O. 2013. New data on
native fowls in Iran by Nazarbeigy et al. (2012). the chewing lice (Phthiraptera) of passerine
Naz et al. (2012) published the chewing lice birds in East of Iran. Sci Parasitol 14(2):63-
(Phthiraptera) of Columbidae (Columbiformes) 68.
from neighbor country Pakistan, she did not report Murari SK, Frey FJ, Frey BM, Gowadaa TV and
Goniodes on pigeon. Also, there have been studies Vishwanath BS.2005. Use of pavo
on infestation with lice in passerine birds, cristatus feather extract for the better
greatwhite pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), management of snakebite Neutralization of
Golden Eagles and other wild bird species in Iran, inflammatory reactions. J. Ethno pharm. 99:
There is no record of this louse species from this 229– 237.
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Despite these studies, the knowledge of (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera)
lice species on peacock in Iran remains limited. infesting the Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
There was no previous targeted research on lice with one new country record and new host
infestation of peacock. We report for the first time record for Saudi Arabia. Turk J Zool 38.
in this study louse on peacock in Iran. Considering Naz S, Sychra O and Rizvi SA .2012. New records
that there is limited information available on the and a new species of chewing lice
louse fauna of peacock, further investigations are (Phthiraptera, Amblycera, Ischnocera) found
needed to identify and comprise future collections on Columbidae (Columbiformes) in
of lice. Pakistan. Zoo Keys 174: 79–93.
Nazarbeigy M, Rahbari S and Ronaghi H.
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