La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Comparison of four fumigants for removing avian lice
Auteurs :	R. M. Visnak, Auteur ; J. P. Dumbacher, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Field Ornithology (70(1) WIN 1999)
Article en page(s) :	42-48
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Fumigation chambers are commonly used to remove avian ectoparasites without harming host birds. Although several fumigants are commonly used, we know of no systematic comparison of available fumigants, and there is no agreement as to which is best. We compared the efficiency of four fumigants that have been supported in the literature: chloroform, di-ethyl ether (ether), ethyl acetate, and CO(2). We conducted two types of experiments using chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera). First, fumigants were ranked according to the speed with which they immobilized lice. CO(2) immobilized lice most quickly, and ether the slowest. Second, fumigants were ranked according to the percentage of immobilized lice that detached from a suspended feather. Chloroform detached the most lice, and CO(2) the least, with ether and ethyl acetate intermediate. Third, of those lice detaching, the mean time to detachment was the quickest under CO(2). Finally: chloroform, ether, and ethyl acetate all kill lice; however CO(2) only anaesthetizes lice, and lice quickly revive when exposed to fresh air.

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