Project Abstract

Project Overview

<p> <b><b></b></b></p><p><b><b><b>&nbsp;INTRODUCTION</b></b></b></p><p><b><b><b></b></b></b></p><b><b><b><p>The<br>domestic cat (<i>Felis catus</i>) is one of the most favorite animal and companion<br>of humans in many parts of the world. This may be due to their attractive<br>nature, good appearance and also their ability to control the population of<br>pest in and around their habitat. They are mostly found in areas of human<br>presence. Other than humans, domestic cat also interacts with other pets and<br>animals within and outside human houses.</p><p>Domestic cat population serves as an<br>important host to different medically and veterinary important parasites and<br>because they interact with the environment and other animals around, they are also<br>important hosts for various ectoparasites (Borji <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;2011). Ectoparasites<br>are vectors of zoonotic pathogens such as, Lyme disease, Powassan encephalitis,<br>plague, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, trypanosomiasis, and tularemia (Nelder and<br>Reeves, 2005). Some ectoparasitic arthropods are irritating pests of humans and<br>domestic animals, regardless of their significance as vectors of disease. In<br>fact, Jittapalapong <i>et al. </i>(2008) reported infested stray domestic cats to<br>be virtually the source of many zoonotic diseases such as rabies, cat-scratch<br>disease, ehrlichiosis and toxoplasmosis and easily spread the diseases to house<br>animals by contact. The potential of diseases transmission from domestic cats<br>to the human being is high as the domestic cats share the same habitat with the<br>human being.</p><p>Ectoparasites are<br>organisms which spend all or part of their life cycles on the external of<br>another organism, the host, and in the process extract nutriment from it for<br>survival (Cable, 1988). Ectoparasites are a common and important cause of<br>pruritic and nonpruritic skin disorders in cats. Ectoparasites can transmit a<br>variety of diseases and cause hypersensitivity disorders in animals. They also<br>may cause life-threatening anemia in young or debilitated animals (Araujo <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;1998). However, most cats with<br>ectoparasites have no clinical symptoms.</p><p>The prevalence of<br>ectoparasites on domestic cats and other domestic animal depends on the rate of<br>proliferation of the ectoparasites which is influenced by the environmental<br>condition, humidity and temperature of the habitat (Akucewich <i>et al., </i>2002;<br>Nuchjangreed and Somprasong, 2007; Jittapalapong <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;2008;<br>Paramasvaran <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;2009; Mendes-de-Almeida <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;2011).<br>Furthermore, Jittapalapong <i>et al., </i>(2008) also state that socio-economy<br>also seemed one of the important factors for the prevalence of the<br>ectoparasites as increasing cost of living may cause the pet owners least<br>concern and unaffordability to manage their pet’s health.</p><p>The relationship of domestic<br>cats with other animal also can contribute to the prevalence of ectoparasites as<br>the ectoparasites can be transmitted from other animal host (Paramasvaran <i>et<br>al., </i>2009). The advance in transportation system and relocation of infested<br>animal also can influence the prevalence and the infestation rate of<br>ectoparasites on domestic cats and other animal at that particular area<br>(Nuchjangreed and Somprasong, 2007). The ectoparasites are comprised from many<br>groups of parasitic animals. The common ectoparasites infesting the domestic<br>cats belong to four groups which are fleas, mites, lice and ticks. Ticks are<br>however one of the most common found around the tropics.</p><p>Ticks are bloodsucking<br>arthropod parasites of the skin. Tick infestation may be noted in outdoor cats.<br>However, the infestation is less serious than the diseases they transmit. The<br>species reported most frequently infesting cats are <i>Dermacentor variabilis</i>,<br><i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i>, <i>Amblyomma </i>spp and <i>Ixodes </i>spp<br>(Sosna and Medleau, 1992). The impact of ticks and tick borne diseases on the individual<br>and national economics warrants application of appropriate tick control strategies<br>on priority basis (Bansal, 2005).</p><p>Most of the<br>investigations on prevalence of tick species in Africa (Nigeria) are more than<br>a decade old (Perry <i>et al.,</i>&nbsp;1975;<br>Minjauw and McLeod, 2003), whereas periodical monitoring of tick infestation is<br>an essential component for formulating effective control measures and<br>recommendations.</p><p><b>1.1 &nbsp;</b><b>Statement<br>of research problem</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>Due<br>to the low specificity of tick’s host and to the increased mobility, ticks can<br>easily go from one species to another, so that some parasites found in animals<br>can pass to humans, causing serious diseases. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p>Ticks<br>cause direct damage owing to their blood-feeding behavior since they cause<br>anaemia in cats, and act as vectors for bacterial, rickettsial, viral and<br>protozoal diseases and may also cause tick paralysis owing to poisonous<br>injections. However, these infections can carry substantial morbidity and<br>affect much of human population depending on the socio-economic environment.</p><p>The<br>role played by ectoparasites in several human diseases and animals therefore<br>calls for a need to study these parasites and their prevalence.</p><p>Both city and local resident keep cats<br>as pet and as hunter of house rodents. It appears that only those in the Urban<br>or the city pay attention to the health of those animals in terms of routine<br>visit to the veterinary clinic. However, in the urban areas they still have<br>care free attitude in taking good healthcare of their animals.</p><p>Despite the large numbers of cats in Nigeria,<br>very few studies have been conducted on the distribution of ticks on these<br>animals. As a result there is paucity of information on the distribution,<br>species composition, public awareness and zoonotic importance of ectoparasites<br>of cats in Nigeria.</p><p><b>1.2 &nbsp;</b><b>Justification</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>This<br>study can provide the information on the general health condition of domestic<br>cats and humans relative to the potential health problems that can be caused by<br>ticks based on the level of tick prevalence. Policy makers may find the result<br>useful in evidence-based decision to control ticks or initiate surveillance on tick<br>borne diseases (TBD) in the area.</p><p>The availability of information may help in understanding the<br>relationship of these parasites, their potentials and impact on the cat<br>population, livestock and humans. Knowledge of tick distribution is an<br>essential prerequisite for devising any effective control of these arthropods<br>and the infections they transmit.</p><p>The impact of ticks and tick borne diseases on individual and national<br>economy warrants application of appropriate tick control strategies on priority<br>basis. Most of the investigations on prevalence of tick in Nigeria are more<br>than a decade old, whereas periodical monitoring of tick infestation is<br>essential component for formulating effective control measures and<br>recommendations.</p><p><b>1.3 &nbsp;</b><b>Aim</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>To study tick infestation in domestic cat<br>observed in some selected homes of Ungwan Rimi Kaduna.</p><p><b>1.4 &nbsp;</b><b>Objectives</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; To<br>determine tick density in domestic cats encountered during in Ungwan Rimi.</p><p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; To<br>determine the influence of habitat and health care variables on tick<br>infestation on domestic cats in Ungwan Rimi.</p><p><b>1.5 &nbsp;</b><b>Hypotheses</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; There<br>are no ticks on domestic cats in Ungwan Rimi.</p><p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; Habitat<br>and health care variables have no influence on tick infestation on domestic<br>cats in Ungwan Rimi.</p></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> <br><p></p>