Abstract

1 Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Adamitulu PPSC, Research and Development Department, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Skin diseases are one of the major causes of considerable economic loss from defective skin and hide export. Skin diseases caused by lice, ticks and mange mites, are among the major diseases of cattle causing serious economic loss to the farmer, the tanning industry and the country as a whole. The study was carried out from November 2009 to June 2010 to determine ectoparasites infestations and diversity in Awi zone, Amhara region. A total of 783 cattle of different breeds, husbandry and sex were inspected for ectoparasites identification, and ticks (89.4%), lice (63.5%) and mange (95.5%) were collected from examined animals. Tick species identified were: Amblyomma variegatum (49.2%), Boophilus decoloratus, (21.2%), Hyalomma marginatum (9.8%), Hyalomma truncatum (6.2%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (6.6%), and Rhipicephalus pulchellus (5.3%). Similarly, Linognathus vituli (76.3%) and Damalina bovis (23.7%) were lice species identified. Furthermore, mange mites identified were Demodex bovis (95.9%) and Chrioptes bovis (4.2%). Seasonal infestation of ticks, lice and mange was higher in local cattle breed and extensive husbandry than cross and intensive one. The largest number of ticks, lice and mange collected from a single animal was 25, 13 and 5, respectively. The prevailing ectoparasites mainly in different cattle breeds reared in Awi zone requires attention in order to minimize the spread of infestation which cause skin and hide quality degradation and disease transmission.