Skin associated problems in working donkeys in three districts of Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted between November 2010 and April 2011 in 3 districts of Sidama Zone, southern Ethiopia, to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors influencing occurrences of skin problems in donkeys. A total of randomly selected 384 male donkeys were clinically examined for skin problems. Hypothesized risk factors (age, body condition, use, feeding, housing at night, harness material, harness fitness) were either observed and recorded at the time of clinical examination or collected through semi-structured questionnaire. The overall prevalence of skin problems, taking into consideration harness sores, hyena bite, donkey bite, ectoparasites, epizootic lymphangitis, sarcoid, dermatophytosis, abscess, brand scar and ulcer due to Habronema was 91.9%. Sores were the most important (82.3%) skin problems followed by ectoparasites (22.1%). The ectoparasites identified in the study were lice (11.2%), ticks (10.4%) and mange mites (1.6%), with mixed infestation involving lice and ticks in 0.8% of the donkeys. Body condition, age, harness material and harness fitness were significantly associated with sore prevalence (P<0.001). Donkeys with poor body condition, old donkeys, donkeys with synthetic harness materials and ill-fitting harness had higher prevalence (P<0.001) of sores compared to their counterparts. The study revealed a high prevalence of skin problems in general and sores in particular which suggest profound compromise in welfare and health of the animals and possible neglect by their owners. Efforts should be made to increase the awareness of the community in general and donkey owners in particular towards improving animal welfare and health.

Keywords: Skin problems, Donkey, Sore, Lice, Ticks, Ethiopia