Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

Author(s): Falmata Kyari, Ali Abba Gana Benisheikh, Ibrahim Yusuf Ngoshe, Babagana Kayeri, Ruben Dawa, Alhaji Umar Awana and Habiba Abdulsalam

Abstract: A survey of tick species infesting donkeys in Borno state was conducted to determine their infestation rate and the parasite burden on Donkeys. Ticks sample were collected by visiting ten herds at random periodically for five (5) consecutive visits. The ticks were identified for their genera in veterinary parasitology laboratory of University of Maiduguri, Borno State. The effect of month, age, State of body condition, housing and grazing systems on tick infestation were recorded. The result revealed that about 64(18.3%) out of 350 of the total breeds of donkey while 24% of Auraki (rust or red) donkey were found to be most susceptible to tick infestation followed by Duni (dark brown to black) with 22%, 18% was recorded in Fari (pale cream to white) and 15.5% Indabari (Grey to light medium brown) respectively. Infestation rate across different age groups, age had no significant effect (p>0.005) on tick infestation in donkey breeds, however, younger donkeys (below 1 year of age were found most affected across the donkey species). In Indabari (grey to light-medium brown) young stock aged below 1 year were most susceptible against 1-2 years donkeys with 4(17.4%) and 5(21.7%) in adults (above 2 years age). The same trend was observed in Fari (pale cream to white), Auraki (Rust or red) and Duni (Dark brown to black) Donkey respectively. However, out of the Donkey species examined 129 (36.8%) with maximum infestation rate was recorded in treated Indabari with 89(69.9%), 90(41.2%) in untreated Fari (grey to light medium brown). While minimum infestation rate was recorded in treated Fari (Grey to light medium brown) Donkey with 9(6.9%) and 13 (10%) in treated Duni (Dark-brown to black) Donkeys respectively. Post treatment did not have significant value (p>0.05) affect the infestation across different donkey species. However, those treated with acaricide were infested slightly lower than the treated one. It is obvious from the above findings that both the treated and untreated carry the tick load although differently. Tick presence in treated donkeys may be due to the application of poor-efficacy drugs available in market at the research area. However, infestation rate in donkeys across different months significantly (p< 0.05) affected ticks infestation rate in Donkey. Maximum infestation was observed in June with (12%) in Fari Donkey species, while lowest infestation rate was recorded in September with 3% in Fari and 4% Auraki Donkey species respectively. Infestation rate was highest in June, September and followed a diminishing trend in the succeeding months. This is attributed to an enhance ticks activity with increased hotness and dampness of the environment in the research area.