Veterinary World (Dec 2013)

Prevalence of ectoparasite infestations of cattle in Bench Maji zone, southwest Ethiopia

  • Tesfaheywet Zeryehun Shiferaw,
  • Simeon Haile Onu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5455/vetworld.2013.291-294
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 6.000
pp. 291 – 294

Abstract

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Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence and type of ectoparasitic fauna and associated host-related risk factors in cattle in Bench Maji Zone, Southwestern, Ethiopia, from October 2011 to April 2012. Materials and Methods: A total of 212 cattle (84 male and 128 female) were sampled and examined. Both physical examination and laboratory investigation were employed in the study. Results: The study revealed that cattle in the study area were infested with single (24.5%) and multiple (2.8%) ectoparasites with an overall prevalence of 27.3% (58/212). Overall seven species of ectoparasites which belong to tick (16.0%), lice (10.4%) and mite (0.9%), were identified. Seven species of ticks which belong to three genera (Boophilus sp., Amblyoma sp., and Rhipicephalus sp.) were identified. Among the species of ticks Boophilus decoloratus (8.0%), Amblyoma variegatum (4.7%) and Amblyoma coherens (4.2%) were the dominant ones in a decreasing order. Among the three species of lice, the most prevalent was Linognathus vituli (4.7%) followed by Haematopinus euysternus (3.8%) and Damalina bovis (1.9%). Psoroptes bovis (0.9%) was the only mite species recorded in this study. For all ectoparasites there was no statistical deference (p>0.05) between the prevalence of any of the ectoparaisite infestation with regard to sex, age and body condition score. Conclusion: The present study revealed a high prevalence and diverse fauna of ectoparasites that could potentially hamper the productivity of cattle in the study area, hence serious attention is warranted. [Vet World 2013; 6(6.000): 291-294]

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