Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Chitra Sakarwal, Sanweer Khatoon, Hakim Manzer Alam and Jitendra Kumar

Abstract:
Among ectoparasites, ticks, mites, lice, flea and biting flies are commonly found on dogs. Their attachment on the dog may affect the health of the animal in several ways namely they harass, extract blood, induce hypersensitivity, introduce pathogens and deposit their offspring in living tissues (Georgi, 1992). Demodex canis is the mite, which lives in the hair follicle and sebaceous gland of skin and cause demodectic mange. It is an inflammatory skin disease. A study was carried out to know the prevalence of ectoparasites infesting dogs of Udaipur region, Rajasthan. A total of 250 dogs with the history of skin problems were presented to the hospitals of Udaipur region and they were screened for different ectoparasites. The ticks, fleas were collected, processed and identified based on morphological characters. The skin scrapings were also collected from the affected dogs and processed for identification of mites. Out of 250 dogs examined, 176 (71.0%) harboured ectoparasites. Among 176 infested pet dogs, 58 (32.95%) were positive for tick, 28 (15.90%) for fleas, 27 (15.34%) for fly, 21 (11.93%) for demodectic mange, 16 (9.09%) for sarcoptic mange, 12 (6.81%) for maggot and mixed 14 7.95%) conditions. The flea identified was Ctenocephalides canis 28 (15.90%). The ticks species were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The mite species infesting dogs were identified as Demodex canis and Sarcoptic scrabei based on the morphological characters. The prevalence of ectoparasites was more in stray and adult dogs compared to pet dogs and puppies respectively. The present study indicates to take care of ectoparasitic infestation in order to minimise the health-related condition of dogs.