Equine Sarcoid: Epidemiology and its Clinical Impact in Working Donkeys in Selected Districts of Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To assess Equine Sarcoid: Epidemiology and its clinical impact in working donkeys in selected districts of central Ethiopia. Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted between November, 2009 to April 2010 to assess the epidemiology and clinical impact of equine sarcoids in working donkeys. A structured questionnaire survey was also designed to collect data on current status of sarcoid on donkeys. A random sampling technique was used to select a total of 394 working donkeys in this study. Selected donkeys were clinically examined properly for visible skin lesion. Results: Among a total of donkeys observed during study period, 31 (7.9%) were diagnosed sarcoid positive. A Chi square analysis was used to determine degree of association between risk factors and prevalence of sarcoid infection. The analysis revealed that sarcoid in working donkeys were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of non-working donkeys. About 83.9% of sarcoid were increasing in size, while 16.1% sarcoid were static in nature. The invasive nature of sarcoid and its complication resulted in apparent blindness, difficulties in locomotion, urination, grazing, mastication and deification. Conclusion: The result of present work suggest that the prevalence impact of equine sarcoid on health and welfare of working donkeys was considerable and deserves attention.