Pathological study of experimentally induced tick bitten (Argas persicus) in poultry skin

The fowl blood sucking tick "Argas persicus" is of great medical and veterinary importance in tropical and subtropical regions because of its role as the vector of certain parasitic bacterial and viral pathogens. In this study, the pathological changes of its bite on the poultry skin have been investigated. Twenty two (12 infested with adults and 10 infested with nymphs) Ross broilers (308) were infested with the tick on the skin of hock joints. Other side healthy legs were used as control. Samples were collected after 6, 24, 48 and 96 hours and 1 or 2 weeks. The skin samples were fixed at 10% buffered formalin and histological sections were prepared using routine Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method. The results showed subcutaneous oedema, massive infiltration of lymphocytes, extensive hemorrhage, feather follicle oedema. Necrosis and epidermal hyperplasia are the prominent lesions in this study. It is concluded that the chicken infestation with Argas persicus caused cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. Therefore, it can be considered as a cause of economic loss.