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The effect of tick control on the prevalence of dermatophilosis on indigenous cattle in Ghana

Published by:
Publication date
27/05/1993
Number of Pages
7
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Articles & Journals
Focus Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa
Focus Topic:
Health & Diseases
Type of Risk:
Biological & environmental
Commodity:
Livestock
Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8134649
Author
Arnott, J.L.; Heron, I.D.; Koney, E.B.; Morrow, A.N.; Walker, A.R.
Organization
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (CTVM), University of Edinburgh

The effectiveness of three tick control regimes on the occurrence of Amblyomma variegatum and dermatophilosis on cattle on the coastal plains of Ghana were compared. Animals at one kraal were sprayed with amitraz at predilection feeding sites of ticks every second week using a high concentration minimum volume technique. Animals at two other kraals were treated with a deltamethrin based pour-on acaricide; at one kraal it was applied once every month while at the other kraal it was used at strategic times based on the expected seasonal increases in the level of infestation with A. variegatum. Animals in a fourth kraal (control group) were treated, by the herdsmen, to control excessive tick build-up as practised under traditional management systems. Fortnightly treatment with amitraz reduced the level of infestation with A. variegatum and the prevalence of dermatophilosis dropped to a low level. The pour-on acaricide similarly depressed the prevalence of dermatophilosis.