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Introduction
Ticks are not commonly found on donkeys in the UK, however, they are a serious problem in some parts of the world and can carry significant infections such as Babesia spp.. Tick-borne diseases are very rarely seen in donkeys in the UK. When the ticks are seen, the usual sites on the body where they attach are periocular region, ear base and pinna, poll, forehead and perineum. Although severe infestations can result in significant debility and anaemia, they seldom cause significant skin disease apart from a localised swelling and inflammation at the bite site that sometimes develops at the site of attachment. In these areas they cause excessive irritation and abscesses after they detach. Irritation to the eyelids attracts nuisance flies, causing conjunctivitis.
A study made in the East Cape of South Africa has shown ticks as a major skin problem in donkeys in that area. The species identified feeding on donkeys include Amblyomma spp, Boophilus spp, Hyalomma spp, and R. pulchellus, R. evarsi and R. turanicus (Sahibi and Bakkoury 1994, Feseha et al, 1998).
Clinical Signs
Ticks may cause pruritus, alopecia, nodular disease, moist/exudative dermatoses and dry dermatosis.
Treatment and control
- In low degrees of infestation, ticks can be hand picked from donkeys, with care taken not to leave tick mouthparts in the skin
- A variety of approved acaricides used in cattle or horses can be used as sprays or ‘wipe-ons’
- Repellents or residual insecticides with repellent activities can be applied during a period of high tick infestation
References
- Knottenbelt, D. (2008) Skin disorders In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 8
- Trawford, A. and Getachew, M. (2008) Parasites In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 6
- Feseha, G., Wellega, D., and Kebre, K. (1998). ‘Observation on ticks infesting equids in Central Ethiopia’. Proceedings of the 3rd International Colloquium of Working Equines. 5-8 October, 1998, Mexico. pp.151-157.
- Sahibi, H., Bakkoury, M. (1994). ‘Equine babesiosis in Morocco, prevalence and equine ticks in Working Equines’. M. Bakkoury and R.A. Prentis (eds). Proceedings of 2nd International Colloquium, 22-24 April 1994. Rabat, Morocco. pp 65-74.
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