Prevalence of Camel Mange Mite and Associated Risk Factors in Gomole District, Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Camel mange is an extremely pruritic and contagious disease of camel caused by a small parasite Sarcoptes scabiei var cameli. It is transmitted by direct or indirect contact, is one of the most important parasitic diseases affecting camel. Camel mange is economically important disease that hinders productivity and health of camel. In Borana pastoral area camel play a pivotal role in the livelihoods; however, there was no any study on the prevalence and risk factors associated with camel mange in Gomole district of Borana zone. Therefore, a cross sectional study was conducted between May to November 2021 to determine prevalence of camel mange mites and associated risk factors in Gomole district. a total of 384 animals were randomly selected and subjected to skin scrapings to recover mange from suspected lesions which was later on examined under microscope, out of the entire camels examined 96 (25%) camels were found positive for mange mite infestation. Only Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli was identified as the only mite species in all skin scraping samples collected from the suspected mange mite lesions. Only body condition and herd size were shown statistically significant difference in prevalence of mange mites (P 0.05). This study indicates that camel papulations in Gomole woreda harbours mange mites which could hamper health and production status of the camels. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to improve the management system, further studies and control measures should be conducted to shrink the effect of mange mite infestation on camel husbandry.