PREVALENCE OF MAJOR SKIN DISEASES IN CATTLE AT SADAR UPAZILA OF SYLHET DISTRICT

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence of skin diseases and associated host-related risk factors in cattle during the period from October, 2014 to May, 2015 in different villages at Sadar Upazila in Sylhet district. A total of 620 cattle were examined. They were divided by sexes (412 females and 208 males) and by age (174 young, 241 adult and 205 old). The overall prevalence of skin diseases was 74.68% (463 cases) found in cattle. Skin diseases were mainly due to ectoparasites which infested cattle in a significantly privileged way and the prevalence of tick infestation (73.71%) was highest among ectoparasites in study area. Among the age groups, the highest infestation was recorded in adult cattle of > 2 to 7 years (90.04%) and the lowest in young of ≤ 2 years (56.90%). The prevalence was recorded significantly higher in females (80.83%) than in male (62.50%). In case of nutritional status, cattle with poor health were more vulnerable (93.28%) to skin diseases than the cattle with normal body condition (43.78%). Prevalence of skin diseases were significantly higher (89.23%) in cattle housed on muddy floor than that of cattle housed on concrete floor (50.00%). It is concluded that prevalence of skin diseases is alarming and threatening to the cattle population and host determinants play a vital role in the frequent occurrence of these skin diseases in the study area, hence serious attention is warranted.