Sarna psoróptica, demodécica e pediculose de ruminantes (Capra hircus L. e Bos indicus L.) no semi-árido da Paraíba: aspectos clínicos e ecológicos

Abstract

Prevalence, population structure and clinical signs of some ectoparasites were studied under natural conditions in goats of cross breeding from six counties in a semi-arid region of the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The arthropods involved were Bovicola caprae (Ewing), psoroptes cuniculi (Delafond) and Demodex caprae (Railliet). The prevalence of B. caprae ranged from 40 to 100% in mallholders farms. Clinical otocariasis was seen in 15% of examined goats. In only one farm whereas subclinical otocariasis was diagnosed in 73% of examined goats from several mallholder farms. Goat demodicosis was also presented in only one farm with prevalence of 2,2%. Prevalence of B. caprae was higher (78,74%) in goats under one year of age in comporasion to adults (66,88%). When the sex was the sample unit, prevalence was higher in adults females than in adult males (P < 0,05). Subclinical otocariasis was also observed in adults goats from the semi-arid region and killed at an commercial abattoir. Prevalence was higher in males (84%) in comparasion with females (66%). The mean intensit, however, was higher in females (446 mites/animal) than in males (351 mites/animal) (P ≤ 0,01). Typical clinical signs associated with B. caprae, P. cuniculi and D. caprae were seen. During the survey mentioned above, an outbreak of demodicosis was diagnosed in xxi a Sindhi herd (dairy) keept in the semi-arid region. The outbreak was monitored from december/89 to january/92, a period extremely dry due to four year without raining, was seen the higher and lower prevalence were, respectively, from january to may, 1992 (27,14%) and june to december, 1990 (9,90%). Clinical sings were diagnosed in both sexes of calves and adults.