A SURVEY OF ECTOPARASITES’ INFESTATION ON DOGS (CANIS SPP.) AT FUNAAB’S COLLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TEACHING HOSPITAL, ISALE-IGBEIN, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

Abstract

A survey work on ectoparasites’ infestation was carried out on dogs (Canis sp.) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Isale-igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State. This survey lasted for six weeks, during this period; thirty four (34) dogs were examined for ectoparasites’ infestation. The dogs brought to the Teaching Hospital for treatments were examined with the consent of their owners by the use of questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered to dog owners, where information about the age, sex, location, control method was asked and ticks were collected from the dogs. The results of the survey showed high prevalence of tick infestation on the exotic dogs (65.4%), on the female dogs (66.7%), on the dogs that are 2 years of age and above (88.9%), on the free range dogs (85.7%), on the wooden confined dogs (71.4%) and on the dogs that powder was used as a control method (68.2%) of the infested dogs brought to FUNAAB VTH with no traces of other ectoparasites on the dogs. Only two species of ticks were found Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus boophilus during this survey. The high prevalence of tick infestation and no infestation by other ectoparasites in the study carried out shows that the dog owners control the ectoparasites but not as adequate as it ought to be and this inadequate hygienic attention given to the dogs brought about the high infestation of ticks on some of the dogs. Although in this survey mono-infestation was recorded on almost all the infested dogs and only one double-infestation was observed with ticks of cattle namely; R. boophilus, this should not be considered as less significant maintenance of the hosts of these ticks.