Prevalence of canine demodicosis in Bikaner, Rajasthan

Abstract

Canine demodicosis caused by ectoparasitic mites of the genus Demodex is a major and common ectoparasitic disease of dogs. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Demodex infection in pet dogs. During the period under study from September 2018 to February 2019, a total of 774 dogs were presented at Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Out of these 774 dogs, 240 (31%) dogs were having dermatological problem in which 25 dogs were positive for demodicosis (10.42%). Out of these 25 dogs, 19 were affected with generalized demodicosis (76% of demodicosis/ 7.91% of total dermatological cases) and 6 were affected with localized demodicosis (24% of demodicosis/ 2.5% of total dermatological cases). The prevalence in female dogs (68%) was higher than that in male dogs (32%). In the present study, the highest prevalence of canine demodicosis was recorded in dogs aged up to 2 years (72%) followed by 12% in 2 to 4 years and 16% in >4 years dogs. Out of 25 dogs breed-wise prevalence of canine demodicosis in the present study was found to be higher in Pug 12(48%), followed by mongrel 6(24%), Labrador 4(16%), German shepherd 2(8%), Dachshund 1(4%).