Comparative efficacy of neem and pungan oil against lice infestation in chicken

Two trails were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of neem and pungan oil against lice infestation in chicken. Twenty four white leghorn layer birds, naturally infested with Menopon gallinae and Lipeurus tropicalis were divided into four groups comprising of six birds. Group I and group II were sprayed with neem and pungan oil at the dose rate of 5 ml per bird respectively. Group III was treated with cypermethrin (0.2 %) and the birds of group IV were kept as control. The lice intensity was reduced to 4 and 5, 2 and 3, and 3 and 2% on 7th, 14th and 21st day post treatment in pungan and neem oil group, respectively. In the cypermethrin treated group the lice count came down to zero on 7th day post treatment. But, no such reduction in the lice count was observed in the control group. Reinfestation was not observed up to 60 days in the treated groups.