What are Parasites

Parasites are any living thing, animal or plant, which lives on or inside another plant or animal and gets its food and shelter from it. The plant or animal which harbors the parasite is called the HOST. This means that a parasite depends entirely on its host for shelter, food, and even for reproduction. Since parasites depend on their host for food and life, parasites can be injurious to their host. But while depending on the host, the parasites will not immediately kill the host because if the host dies quickly, the parasite will no longer have a place to live and where to find food.

Types of parasites

Ecto-parasites:

are living organisms that live outside the bodies of farm animals. Ecto-parasites damage the skin of their hosts and suck blood from their hosts. Some examples of ecto-parasites are ticks, mites, fleas, and lice.

• As ecto-parasites move on the skin and try to feed on the skin or blood of their hosts, they cause irritation and a lot of discomfort, which makes the farm animals scratch and scratch their bodies and cause damage to the body.
• When ecto-parasites feed on the blood of their hosts, they can transmit disease-causing organisms to the animals, which can make them sick.

Endo-parasites:

are living organisms that live inside their host. They can be found in the blood, in parts of the elementary tract, in the internal organs.

Symptoms of diseases caused by Parasites

• Stunted growth.
• Rise in temperature.
• Abortion.
• Reduced food utilization.
• Anaemia.
• Sores and exudates from the skin.
• Loss of weight.
• Loss of hair.
• Loss of appetite.
• Enlarged udder.
• Stained blood.

Modes of Transmission of Parasites

• By air
• By water
• By direct contact with organisms
• From stings, bites insects, ticks, and mites

Common Diseases caused by Parasites

• Anthrax
• Typhoid
• Ringworm
• Cowpox
• Brucellosis
• Newcastle Disease
• Bird Flu
• Rinderpest or cattle plague
• Aspergillosis
• Bloat
• Coccidiosis

Prevention and Control of Parasites

• Only clean and healthy animals should be brought into the herd
• Lots should be drained in order to make them dry and free from stagnant water
• Farm animals with contagious diseases should be isolated
• Do not allow animals to lie on cold water
• Farm animals should be tested at least once a year for brucellosis, tuberculosis, and other diseases
• Seek the advice of veterinary medicine
• Disinfect housing and equipment regularly
• Spray newly acquired animals with insecticides to control lice; also, check for internal parasites and treat infected animals
• Use recommended insecticides and their application methods for the control of parasites
• All farm animals should be vaccinated against diseases common in the locality as a preventive measure