EFFECTS OF ARTHROPOD ECTOPARASITE INFESTATIONS ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY IN THREE DISTRICTS IN SOUTHERN GHANA

ABSTRACT Livestock are vital to subsistence and economic development, providing food, income, employment, manure and savings for Sub-Saharan African farmers. Diseases and arthropod ectoparasite infestations often impact negatively on livestock production and productivity. This study assessed the effects of arthropod ectoparasite infestations on the productivity of three ruminant (cattle, sheep and goats) livestock species in three Districts of Southern Ghana around the Volta River. A total of nine (9) communities were purposely sampled. In all, 37 questionnaires (20 in Lower Manya Krobo, 9 in Dangbe West and 8 in North Tongu) were administered to livestock farmers and, 368 ruminants (209 cattle, 53 sheep and 106 goats) were randomly sampled for arthropod ectoparasites. Majority of farmers (76 %, n = 28) practiced semi-intensive management system. All cattle kraals were either moved or cleaned once a year at most, sometimes after three to five years, unlike small ruminant pens which received more frequent cleaning. Eighty-seven percent (n = 32) responded positively to being aware of and encountering arthropod ectoparasites. Livestock kept under poor husbandry conditions coupled with less frequent use of pesticides were found with more arthropod ectoparasites, which were manifested by the high percentage (83.3 %) of the farmers that use pesticides. Over sixty percent (62.2 %) of farmers complained of poor veterinary services, which was manifested by a high percentage (73 %) of farmers carrying out self-treatment of their animals. A total of 4283 arthropod ectoparasites (537 lice, 3442 ticks, 296 fleas and 8 mites) from 8 genera (Lice: Linognathus, Haematopinus, Bovicola; Ticks: Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma; Fleas: Ctenocephalide; and Mites: Sarcoptes) were collected, which  included Rhipicephalus microplus an invasive species reported for the first time in Ghana. Approximately eighty percent (79.9 %) of the sampled ruminants were found to be positive for at least one arthropod ectoparasite and 13.6 % were infested with at least two arthropod ectoparasites. These parasites affected the livestock negatively, causing wounds, lesions, anorexia and blood loss eventually contributing to weight loss and loss of income. The current results of high ectoparasite infestation in livestock, poor husbandry practices and the presence of an invasive tick species highlights the need for an up-scaling of ectoparasite control efforts and improved veterinary services towards boosting production and productivity.