Public health awareness on flea infestations of domesticated goats in Otapha, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated flea infestation on domesticated goats in Otapha, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 100 domesticated goats reared in Otapha were subjected to flea screening and 61% were reported positive. Fleas were removed from the skin of goats by hand picking and by the used of forceps. The detected fleas were stored in 50% alcohol and conveyed to the laboratory for bioassay. The recovered fleas were identified to species level using flea pictorial key. Flea infestation was noticed in all the settlements where goats were sampled. The encountered flea species in this study were Ctenocephalides canis (24.4%), Ctenocephalides felis (25.6%) and Pulex irritans (50.0%). The high manifestation of flea species in this study suggests that the environmental conditions in Otapha were favourable for rapid growth and survival of flea among goats in the settlements. The result further implied that the inhabitants of Otapha lack the basic diary methods to adequately domesticate goats hence can be highly vulnerable to flea-borne infections such as murine typhus. The response, the   attitude and habit of animal owners indicated that they had zero idea concerning the necessity for veterinary visit for the purpose of disease diagnosis, animal treatment and care. Hence, they employ no precautionary measures to mitigate flea populations on the animal skin, thereby putting the animals at high risk of infestation and making goat owners more vulnerable to flea- borne infections.