LIVESTOCK TICK PREDATION BY CHICKENS - THE RATE OF DIGESTION OF TICKSIN THE ALIMENTARY-TRACT OF CHICKENS

Research on the predation of ticks by chickens is required to establis h the potential role of chickens as biological control agents for tick s. In the present study, 26 local chickens were allowed to feed in gro ups of two or three for 1 hour on a meal containing adult unengorged R hipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum and slaughtered t hereafter at different intervals ranging from 11 min to 24 h. The cont ents of the digestive tracts of the chickens were carefully examined u nder a dissecting microscope to determine the state of digestion of th e ingested ticks. All ticks found in the crop were not digested and a few A. variegatum were attached to the crop wall and were found dead. The gizzard contained partially and completely digested ticks while ti ck remnants were predominant in the small intestine. It was concluded that most of the digestion of tick proteins takes place in the small i ntestine. It was also concluded that, although the digestion rate of t icks varies in individual chickens, all ticks digested in a meal shoul d have been completely digested and absorption of the tick nutrients s hould have started within 21-24 h although this could have been accomp lished as early as 9 h by chickens with fast digestion rates.