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Shiferaw TZ (2013) Prevalence of ectoparasite infestations of cattle in Bench Maji zone, southwest Ethiopia,
World 6(6):291-294, doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.291-294
Onu SH and Vet.
Introduction ectoparasites significantly affect the quality of hide
thereby affecting the economy of Ethiopian farmers as
In Ethiopia there are about 38 million cattle, 30 well as international market [9].
million small ruminants, 1 million camel, 4.5 million Although ectoparasites affect the health,
equines and 40 million poultry in the country [1]. In the productivity of ruminants, and the economy of the
country livestock play vital role in farming system [2]. country [9-11]. However, currently there is a paucity of
However, poor health and productivity of animal due to information regarding to ectoparasites of cattle in
disease has considerably become the major stumbling Bench Maji zone.
block to the potential of livestock industry [2]. Now a The present study was carried out to determine the
day parasitism represents a major obstacle to prevalence and fauna of ectoparasites of ruminants,
development and utilization of animal resource. In and associated host-related risk factors in the study
Ethiopia ectoparasites in ruminant causes serious area.
economic loss to small holder farmers, the tanning
industry and the country as a whole through mortality Materials and Methods
of animals, decreased production, down grading and Study area description: The study was conducted on
rejection of skin and hide [3-5]. Bench Maji Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia from
As a result of their activity ectoparasites may have October 2011 to April 2012. The study area was located
a variety of direct and indirect effects on their hosts. 550 km south west of Addis Ababa. The climatic
Ectoparasites commonly tick, mite and lice affect the condition of the area is divided into highland (19.3%),
host species by the inflammation and the infection they mid land (51.6%) and low land (29.1%). The average
inflict on the skin [6], and by their effect on the altitude of the district ranges from 1200-2200 m.a.s.l
physiology of the animals as well as through and receives annual rain fall of 1500-2000mm [12].
transmission of different diseases [7,8]. Infestations by
Study population: Between October 2011 and April
2012, a total of 212 cattle brought to the Bench Maji
Zone Veterinary clinic were subjected to detailed
examination for the presence of ectoparasites. The
www.veterinaryworld.org 291
doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.291-294
Prevalence of ectoparasite infestations of cattle in Bench Maji zone,
southwest Ethiopia
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Haramaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Corresponding author: email:tesfahiwotzerihun@yahoo.com
Received: 11-09-2012, Accepted: 31-10-2012, Published online: 25-02-2013
Simeon Haile Onu and Tesfaheywet Zeryehun Shiferaw
Tesfaheywet Zeryehun Shiferaw,
Abstract
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.
Keywords: ectoparasites, Ethiopia, prevalence, ruminants
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study population included indigenous cattle (84 male accounts for 16.0%, 10.4% and 0.9% for tick, lice and
and 128 female) of different age, sex and body mite respectively (Table-1).
condition categories. The age of animals was grouped As indicated in Table-2, overall four genera
as young (between 1 and 3 years) and adults (> 3 years) comprising seven species of ticks, three genera
consisting of three species of lice, and a single species
according to the classification method used by Bitew of mites were identified in this study. Among the ticks,
[13]. Likewise, the body condition scores (good, Boophilus decoloratus (8%), Amblyoma variegatum
medium and poor) were classified based on the criteria (4.7%) and Amblyoma coherens (4.2%) were the most
set by Nicholson and Butterworth [14]. prevalent, and the least identified tick species was
Protocol design and method: Both physical and Amblyoma lepidium (0.9%). In this study, out of the
parasitological examinations were employed. Skin three species of lice recorded Linognathus vituli (4.7%)
scrapings from suspected cases of mange were was the most prevalent followed by Hematopinus
collected and preserved in 10% formalin. Mites were euysternus (3.8%) and Damalina bovis (1.9%).With
made to be released from scabs and crusts after addition regard to mites, Psoroptus ovis was the only mite
of 10% KOH on the specimens according to the species identified with a prevalence of 0.9%.
procedure described by Soulsby [15]. Ticks and lice Sex wise prevalence of ectoparasites: The overall
were collected in 70% alcohol. Identification of the prevalence of external parasite infestation in male and
collected ectoparasites was carried out by the aid of female animals was 25.0% and 39.1%, respectively.
stereo- and compound microscope using identification The difference in the prevalence in male and female
keys set by Wall and Shearer [16] and Soulsby [15]. animals was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In
Statistical analysis: The collected data was analyzed both sexes B. decoloratus and A. variegatum were the
by a statistical software namely, SPSS version 20. dominant ectoparasites (Table-3).
Prevalence was determined by the formula described Age wise prevalence of ectoparasites: The overall
by Thrusfield [17] as the rate of number of infested prevalence of ectoparasites in the adult and young age
animals and total number of animals in the population. groups was 32.7% and 57.1%, respectively. Nonethe-
Associations between explanatory variables (age, sex less, the present study revealed no statistical difference
and body condition score) and prevalence was done by
2(p>0.05) in the prevalence of the various species of
chi-square (÷) test. In all analysis, 95% confidence ectoparasites between the two age categories (Table-3).
intervals and P<0.05 were set to indicate significance.
Prevalence of external parasites by body condition:
Results The overall prevalence of external parasites in animals
Overall prevalence of ectoparasites: Of the 212 cattle with good, medium, and poor body condition was
examined in this study, 58 (27.3%) were found infested 9.1%, 35.4% and 45.8%, respectively. In all the three
with one or more species of ectoparasites, which examined hosts, there was no disparity in harboring
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Table-1. Overall prevalence of ectoparasites in 212
ruminants in Bench Maji Zone
Ectoparasite Total No. Positive Prevalence (%)
Tick 34 16.0
Lice 22 10.4
Mite 2 0.9
Overall 58 27.3
Species of ectoparasites Total No. Positive Prevalence (%)
Boophilus decoloratus 16 8.0
Amblyoma variegatum 10 4.7
Amblyoma coherens 9 4.2
Amblyoma gema 4 1.9
Rhipicephalus camicasi 3 1.4
Rhipicephalus eversi 3 1.4
Amblyoma lepidium 2 0.9
Linognathus vituli 10 4.7
Hematopinus eurysternus 8 3.8
Damalina bovis 4 1.9
Psoroptus ovis 2 0.9
Overall 58 27.3
Table-2. Species based prevalence of ectoparasites in
cattle in Bench Maji Zone
Table- 3. Prevalence of species of ectoparasites by sex, age and body condition.
Species of Sex Age Body condition scores
Ectoparasites Male Female Adult Young Good Medium Poor
(n=84) (n=128) (n=205) (n=7) (n=44) (n=96) (n=72)
A. variegatum 4(4.8) 6(4.7) 0.001(0.980) 10(4.9) - - - 4(4.2) 6(8.3) 4.338(0.114)
A. lepidium 1(1.2) 1(0.8) 0.091(0.763) 1(0.5) 1(14.3) 13.790(0.065) - - 2(2.8) -
A. gemma 1(1.2) 3(2.3) 0.364(0.546) 4(2.0) - - - 3(3.1) 1(1.4) 1.738(0.419)
A. coherens 1(1.2) 8(6.3) 3.033(0.857) 8(3.9) 1(14.3) 1.795(0.265) 1(2.3) 2(2.1) 6(8.3) 4.485(0.106)
B. decoloratus 6(7.1) 10(7.8) 0.145(1.000) 15(7.3) 1(14.3) 0.471(0.427) 1(4.5) 8(8.3) 7(9.7) 1.016(0.602)
R. camicasi 1(1.2) 2(1.6) 0.050(1.000) 3(1.5) - - - 2(2.1) 1(1.4) 0.939(0.625)
R. eversi - 3(2.3) - 3(1.5) - - - 2(2.1) 1(1.4) 0.939(0.625)
D. bovis 2(2.4) 2(1.6) 0.184(0.649) 4(2.0) - - 1(2.3) 1(1.0) 2(2.8) 0.715(0.700)
L. vituli 3(3.6) 7(5.5) 0406(0.743) 9(4.4) 1(14.3) 1.475(0.291) - 5(5.2) 5(6.9) 3.025(0.220)
H. euysternus 2(2.4) 6(4.7) 0.743(0.483) 8(3.9) - - 1(2.3) 6(6.3) 1(1.4) 3.022(0.221)
P. ovis - 2(1.6) - 2(1.0) - - - 1(1.0) 1(1.4) 0.582(0.748)
Overall 21(25) 50(39.1) 67(32.7) 4(57.1) 6(9.1) 34(35.4) 33(45.8)
2 2 2
÷(p-value) ÷(p-value) ÷(p-value)
doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.291-294
any of ectoparasite infestations between the different this study there was no significant difference (p>0.05)
body condition categories (Table-3). in the prevalence of lice infestation among the different
sex, age and body condition categories in the three
Discussion hosts examined. Similar observation was made by
The result of the present study showed a wide Nigatu and Teshome [21]. This might be due to the
range of single and multiple ectoparasites infestation management practice in the study area where animals
with an overall prevalence of 27.3% in the study area. are kept together which facilitates transmission of lice
This result was lower than the report of by Tadesse et al. by direct contact [6].
[18] (73.3%) from Ethiopia, Islam et al. [19] (65.5%) The overall prevalence of mite in cattle was 0.9%
from Bangladesh. Variation in geographical locations, and P. ovis was the only mite species identified in the
climatic conditions, and management practices in the area. Our finding was in close agreement with the
different study areas might have contributed for the report of Tadesse et al. [18] (0.4%). On the contrary,
disparity in prevalence. prevalence of mites as high as 95.5% [21] was reported
In this study tick (14.5%) infestation was the from Western Ethiopia. This discrepancy might be due
to difference in the ideal macro and micro environment
outstanding ectoparasites followed by lice (12.1%) and (high temperature, humidity and sun light) in the study
mite (3.4%). This finding was in agreement with earlier areas which favors the breeding and multiplication of
studies on ruminants [11,20,21] who reported the mite [32]. Although prevalence of P. ovis was lower in
predominance of ticks. In contrast to our finding, a this study its potential to cause serious skin lesions
higher prevalence of 39.6% [18] and 64.07% [22] of should not be undermined [32]. There was no
ticks has been reported. The lower prevalence of ticks significant dispersion in the infestation of animals by
in cattle in the present study area could be attributed to mites with regard to sex, age and body condition
the relatively good access to veterinary services, and it categories in ruminants. Age and sex are not deter-
could also be due to the long dry season of the study minant factors in the infestation of mites [8].
period, because tick infestations tend to decrease
during the dry season compared to the wet seasons Conclusion
[23]. Climatic determinants of the study areas such as Overall ruminants in Bench Maji zone in
humidity and prolonged sunlight favor the multipli- Southwest Ethiopia were found to be infested with
cation and maintenance of the parasite in the environ- diverse ectoparasitic fauna implying their effects on
ment [24]. productivity of these animals and on the economy of
Out of the seven species of ticks recorded, the farmers and the country at large. Hence, Very good
most prevalent was B. decoloratus (8.0%) followed by veterinary services and management practice should be
A. variegatum (4.7%). The dominance of B. decoloratus put in the place to control infestations of these valuable
followed by A. variegatum in cattle was previously animals. Moreover, further epidemiological investiga-
reported [2,25-28]. The dominance of Boophilus tions that consider different agro-ecology and management
species over Amblyoma species was because of the system is warranted for appropriate control of ectoparsites.
dependence of native distribution of ticks on the
distribution of host species and climatic condition [29]. Authors’ contribution
As observed by Endale [30] there existed no statistical Tesfaheywet Zeryehun Shiferaw implemented study
significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of design, involved in the acquisition of data and data
ticks between the different sex, age, and body condition analysis. Tesfaheywet Zeryehun Shiferaw and Simeon
score categories. This could be related to the Haile Onu drafted the manuscript. Both authors revised
management system where animals are allowed to the manuscript, read and approved the final manuscript.
graze together in communal fields in the mixed
Acknowledgements
farming system of the study area.
The overall prevalence of lice recorded in the The authors would like to thank the Bench Maji
present study was 10.4%. Our finding was in consent Zone Veterinary Clinic and Parasitology Laboratory staff
with the result of Tadesse et al. [18] who reported a members for their provision of necessary materials and
prevalence of 9.5%. On the contrary, this result was in the help rendered during the study period.
disagreement with the finding of Rony et al. [22], Competing interests
Nigatu and Teshome [21] (63.5%). These disparities
could be attributed to differences in the agro-ecology, Authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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