Veterinary Science & Technology

Studies of Ectoparasites Bionomics among Household Animals in Ebonyi State

Abstract

Uhuo Cosmas Augustus*, Oliver Odikamnoro Onyemeze, Onwe Chikaodili Simeon, Eze Gideon Chinedu, Nwokporo Nkiruka, Obealor Ogochukwu and Mary A Ben Chukwu

All over the world, ectoparasites is a serious menace to livestock, as well as human. Their parasitic activities include transmission of pathogenic organisms while feeding on the host tissues, establishment of their parasitic larval stage at the sub-dermal region of the skin, thereby creating a room for invasion of infectious organism. The study of tick’s ectoparasites bionomics among household animals in Ebonyi state was conducted in Ebonyi central district in 2019 using standard entomological techniques. A total of 300 animals were examined at different predilection sites and hygiene for ectoparasite bionomics. The result revealed that of the 539 (179.7%) ectoparasite recovered, sheep had the highest prevalence 215 (39.80%) followed by goats 191 (35.40%) and lastly dog 133 (24.66%). There was a mixed infestation among the animals examined of which sheep was infested with 55 (47.83%) ticks, goat 50 (43.48%) and dog 40 (34.78%). These ectoparasites had a high infestation rate in the animals assessed with very poor hygiene and nutritional standard, therefore control and treatment of these infested animals should be taken seriously because of the damage caused on these animals. The study also revealed that most ectoparasites were choice specific in infestation. It is therefore recommended that further research on the occurrence and spread of ectoparasites diseases should be carried out to cover other areas of Ebonyi state.