Background: Parasite contributes significantly to the decline of livestock production and productivity and consequently hamper the availability of protein food resource.
Aim: This study aims to report the prevalence of parasitic diseases in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
Method: A retrospective data of animal diseases in the Eastern Cape Province from 2013-2018 was obtained from the veterinary unit of the Department of Rural and Agrarian Reform (DrDAR) database, decoded analysed, and interpreted.
Results: The result reveals a significant association (P< 0.05) between local municipality, seasons, year, and livestock species. Endoparasites (75 % were the highest reported in the year 2015), whereas ectoparasites (38.1 %) and fly parasites (30.4 %) were mostly reported in the year 2016. The highest prevalence of fly parasites and the endoparasites was found in autumn (87 %) and spring (75 %). The Local municipality with the highest prevalence was Amahlathi (fly parasite, 91.3 %), Dr Beyers Naude (ectoparasite, 43.6 %), Intsika Yethu (endoparasite, 75 %), Makana (protozoa, 45.8 %), Mbhashe (haemoparasite, 40 %), Raymond Mhlaba municipality (haemoparasite, 12.5 %), and Lukhanji (fly parasite, 8.7 %). Parasitic diseases diagnosis in the province between 2013 to 2018 were babesiosis (1.7 %), anaplasmosis (2.1 %), distomastosis (0.1 %), and goat mange (0.2 %), and sheep scab (94 %).
Conclusion: The prevalence of parasitic disease was found unevenly distributed in the local municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province and mostly diagnosed in autumn and spring compared to summer and winter. This study provides a baseline information to guide policy making on disease preventative actions. The recommended action would include the appropriate and timely use of acaricide to mitigate problems associated with parasitic diseases.
Key words: Sheep scab; internal parasites; external parasites; Anaplasmosis; Eastern Cape Province.
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