POPULATION DIVERSITY OF CHEWING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA) INFESTING DUCKS AND GEESE (FAMILY ANATIDAE) IN SOUTHEAST PARTS OF PAKISTAN


 The birds and chewing lice relationship depends on environmental conditions that cause morbidity by feeding feathers, irritating them, hence affecting their economic importance. In the present work, statistical taxonomical analysis of was done using population distribution, prevalence host-parasite interaction. (Phthiraptera) were planned to study burden infestation rate in ducks geese local water bodies Sindh. conducted between September 2018 August 2021. Total 124 birds, including Anas acuta, A. crecca, platyrhynchos, querquedula, Aythya ferina, fuligula, nyroca, Anser albifrons, anser, Marmaronetta angustirostris Spatula clypeata used. Amongst host only 58 found infested with 46.77% lice. A total 405 collected among them 137 males, 178 females 90 nymphs recovered, 8 species, Anaticola crassicornis (Scopoli, 1763), mergiserrati (de Geer, 1778), Anatoecous dentatus icterodes (Nitzsch, 1818), Holomenopon fatemae (Naz Rizvi, 2012), H. leucoxanthum (Burmeister, 1838), Trinoton anserinum (Fabricius, 1805) T. qurequdulae (Linnaeus, 1758). highest abundance frequency (%) recorded for 125 30.86% respectively, whereas lowest Anatoecus 12 2.96% respectively. Among host-wise ferina (58.33%), least albifrons (22.22%). mean intensity (13.89±3.33) (2.6±0.4). It also first collective report anatid Sindh region Pakistan.