Avian chewing lice (Insecta: Psocodea: Phthiraptera) infestation in Faisalabad, Pakistan, with first country record of Degeeriella fulva

Chewing lice are obligate ectoparasites of birds that directly or indirectly impact the avian health and sometimes lead to blood-borne diseases. This study was carried out on 133 specimens of birds belonging to seven species in District Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Birds were visually examined and lice were preserved in 70% ethanol and mounted on slides in Canada balsam. Overall prevalence was 36.09% (48/133) with significant variation among bird species (χ2 = 24.7, p < 0.05). As a result of stereoscopic examination, 7 lice species; Hohorstiella lata (Piaget, 1880), Menacanthus cornutus (Schommer, 1913), Anaticola crassicornis (Scopoli, 1763), Corvonirmus saliemi (Ansari, 1957), Columbicola columbae (Linnaeus, 1758), Colpocephalum turbinatum Denny, 1842 and Degeeriella fulva (Giebel, 1874) were identified. For the first time, D. fulva was observed in Pakistan, establishing a new record for the country. Columba livia (Gmelin, 1789) exhibited the highest infestation rates (57.89%, 33/57), predominantly with Columbicola columbae. Urban areas showed lower infestation, 26% (95% CI: 16.5–36.7%, n = 21/80) than rural areas, 51% (95% CI: 37.6–64.2%; χ2 = 8.43, d.f. = 1; p = 0.004; OR = 2.9; n = 27/53). These findings provide baseline data on chewing lice fauna of Faisalabad and document a new national record.