RELEVANCE OF Amblyomma variegatum INFESTATION IN THE PREVALENCE OF BOVINE DERMATOPHILOSIS

Abstract

Fifty (50) cattle were randomly sampled from five different herds across Zaria metropolis for ticks using standard methods, the severities of the dermatophilosis lesions were observed and the extent of infestation with Amblyomma variegatum compared. The mean±SD per herd of Amblyomma variegatum ranges from 2.2± 2.6 to 5.4 ± 3.5 in all the herds with about 20% of the cattle not having any Amblyomma variegatum on them. The distribution of those not infested ranges between 10 to 30% within the herds. The level of dermatophilosis lesion on the cattle per herd revealed that 34% of all the cattle sampled showed no lesions of dermatophilosis and those without lesion were spread within four out of the five herds, 16% (8) of the animal showed mild infestation, 36% (18) showed moderate infestation while the remaining 16% showed severe and very severe infestation. Of all the 50 cattle sampled in the five herds, 34 (68%) showed lesion of dermatophilosis with concurrent infestation with Amblyomma variegatum. The remaining fractions either showing no lesions of dermatophilosis with Amblyomma variegatum infestation or manifested lesions of dermatophilosis without Amblyomma variegatum infestation. The extent of the dermatophilosis lesion was found in most cases to correlate with the severity of Amblyomma variegatum infestation Key words: Amblyomma variegatum, Dermatophilosis, Infestation, Cattle