Volatile compounds from the integument of White Leghorn Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L.): candidate attractants of ornithophilic mosquito species.

Candidate kairomones of ornithophilic mosquito species are reported from GC/MS analysis of compounds from the skin on the back, the feet, and feathers from the back of White Leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Hexane and ether extracts of chicken feathers differ significantly in attractiveness of Culex spp. mosquitoes. The active (hexane) extracts contained an abundance of alcohols, ketones, and diones. The inactive (ether) extracts contained aldehydes, which also were in the hexane extracts. Analysis of hexane extracts from chicken feet, skin, and feathers demonstrated the qualitative similarity in the compounds collected with subtle differences observed in the quantitative amounts of these compounds. Aldehydes and carboxylic acids were detected in a concentrated ether extract of feathers in quantitatively similar ratios within each compound class for the corresponding series of C(6)-C(9 )aldehydes and acids.