Occurrence of Bovine Dermatophilosis in Ambo Town, West Shoa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted on 384 animals in and around Ambo town, West Shoa Zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia from October, 2010 to March, 2011 with the aim of determining the prevalence, associated risk factors and to give recommendations how the disease could be managed. Clinical and Giemsa staining were the techniques used for the identification of Dermatophilus congolensis. Twenty (5.21%) of the animals were affected by the disease which was more prevalent in imported (66.67%) than local (3.21%) animals, in wet (10.35%) than dry season (0.95%), in males (4.29 %) than females (5.88 %), in > 3 years old (5.52%) than in 0.05). Amblyomma variegatum was the predominant tick species identified during the study. This study also indicated that dermatophilosis is a potential determinant factor for the dairy development strategy started through imported cattle in the study area. Tick control especially on imported cattle is suggested to reduce the risk of dermatophilosis.