Tropicultura (Jan 2014)
La gale sarcoptique ovine dans le Nord-est algérien: Incidence, aspects lésionnels et cliniques
Abstract
Sheep's Sarcoptic Mange in North-eastern Algeria: Prevalence, Lesion and Clinical Aspects. Sarcoptic mange is the most common form of ovine mange in North-Eastern Algeria. It is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. ovis. An investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence and the seasonal profile of of the disease in sheep. During a period of one year, various aspects of sheep scabies were studied in different localities parts of North-Eastern Algeria. The average rate of infestation was 12.02% as judged by visiting livestock markets in Souk-Ahras, Guelma and Tebessa. The prevalence of the disease is high from December to March and low or zero during the remaining of the year. Sixty percent of flocks of the region of El-Tarf were found infested and 49.5% of animals were positive. The disease affected animals at any age. It occurred in ewes lambs and rams with prevalence of 50.5%, 37% and 22.3% respectively. The study of lesion and clinical aspects of affected sheep in El-Tarf revealed that 55% of individuals had lesions on the muzzle, 30% showed an extension of crust up to the chamfer, the basis of the ears and the lip,10% had their head completely covered by scabs; only 5% showed extension of the lesions to the legs. It seems that the parasitic burden is in strong correlation with the extent of the lesions.
