Research article

Parasitic infestation in Peafowl of Bahawalpur   Zoo, Punjab, Pakistan

Alvina Khursheed,   Nuzhat Sial*, Sobia Malik and Mushtaq Hussain Lashari

Department of Life Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. 63200

*Corresponding Author Email: nuzhatiub@yahoo.com; Tel: +923009688205

Accepted 15 September 2014

Abstract

The present study was conducted to find out the Parasitic infestation in peafowl of Bahawalpur Zoo from May 2011 to April 2012. Different methods were used to collect and identify the parasites in peafowl. About 30.7% of peafowl’s were infected with external parasitic infestation. Menacanthus stramineus 12.19% was found to be high prevalent. It was revealed that Blue peafowl (pavo criatatus) was mostly 36.66 % suspected to parasitic infestation followed by Green java (pavo muticus) 29.26 %. Mixed parasites were found in majority of peafowl but louse were highly prevailed.

Keywords: Parasites, parasitic infestation, peafowl’s