230 Diseases of Poultry 



A considerable portion of the injury done by these para- 

 sites is due to the irritating annoyance of the feeding ticks. 

 It has been found, however, that this is not the most seri- 

 ous injury. In those countries infested with these ticks 

 there is a disease known as the tick fever. It has been shown 

 that this disease is caused by a protozoon blood parasite, 

 Spirochceta marchouxi, and that this protozoon lives in the 

 poultry tick as an intermediate host. 



Treatment. — Thorough cleanliness and disinfection are the 

 remedies to use against this tick. Five to ten per cent 

 kerosene emulsion applied to the clean roosts and walls will 

 rid the place of these pests. 



Otiier External Parasites 



The dove cot hug or "bed-bug" of poultrymen, found in 

 pigeon lofts, sometimes invades neighboring hen roosts. 

 It probably sometimes attacks fowls. It resembles closely 

 the bed bug found in dwelling houses, and like this pest is 

 hard to exterminate as it can live almost indefinitely on 

 dead organic matter. This tick hides in cracks during the 

 day and attacks its host only at night. Persistent repetition 

 of the sprays recommended for hen roosts infected with red 

 mites (p. 216) will destroy these parasites. 



Leaflet No. 57 of the English Board of Agriculture gives 

 the following brief account of the hen flea, Pulex gallina; (or 

 aviuvi) : 



"The fleas, which are true insects, belong to the order of 

 flies {Diptera). They feed upon the blood. One species 

 only lives upon the fowl, namely the bird flea {Pulex gallince 

 or avium) which attacks also most other birds. The hen 

 flea, as it is generally called, is abundant in dirty fowl runs, 

 and especially in the nests where straw is used. The adult 

 flea is dark in color, and, as in all fleas, is devoid of wings. 



