Prevalence of Bovine Demodecosis in Northern Nigeria and its Possible Economic Effect of Animal Production

Abstract

The prevalence and importance of bovine dermatoses was studied by means of field surveys over a two year period. Demodecosis, a parasitic disease caused by a manage mite, Demodex folliculorum bovis, is the second most common and important skin disease of cattle in Northern Nigeria. The disease is less common in well managed government-owned herds than in local herds. About 3% of the 10 million cattle population of Northern Nigeria are affected by this disease which is responsible for downgrading of hides and skins. It is conservatively estimated that the disease is responsible for an annual loss of about N300,000 to the hide and skin industries.