Prevalence of major skin diseases of cattle in and around Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia | Biomed Grid

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of major skin diseases of cattle in and around Hawassa from November 2011 to April 2012. Of the total 384 cattle examined, 66 (17.27%) were clinically infected with different skin diseases of various etiologic origin. The most commonly encountered skin diseases were: dermatophytosis (8.32%), ascariasis (3.13%), pediculosis (2.60%), lumpy skin disease (1.62%) and dermatophilosis (1.56%). No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among age, breed and managemental groups in relation to the prevalence of dermatophilosis and lumpy skin disease infection rates whereas significantly (P<0.05) higher cases of dermatophytosis and pediculosis were recorded in animals less than two years of age. In dermatophytosis and pediculosis cases, no significant difference (P>0.05) was seen between the sex and breed groups. In pediculosis cases, the major lice species encountered were Bovicolabovis, Haematopinus and Linognatus species. Statistically significant (p<0.05) difference was observed in two sex groups regarding to ascariasis infestations. The frequent sites of ringworm lesions were on the hump, sacral areas, face and base of the horn, ears and sides of the body. Hides and skins are main sources of raw materials for tannery industry inputs. Therefore, animal health assistants, veterinarians, regional governments and tanneries should support activities in fight of skin diseases