The Dynamics of Leech Infestation in Livestock and Control Practices in the North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract In developing countries such as Ethiopia, leech infestation is a neglected parasitic disease of livestock. Although such studies are important, little attention has been paid to the occurrence, impact and risk factors of leech infestation in livestock in Ethiopia. The objective of the current study was to assess farmers' knowledge of leech infestation and control practices, and to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of leech infestation in domestic animals in northwestern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of North Gondar Zone from February 2021 to August 2021. Livestock (n=2040) and 300 respondents for questionnaire survey were randomly selected. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, 98.67% of the respondents were aware of leech infestation, the effects of leeches and the locally available control methods. Cattle had the highest prevalence (10.08%), followed by horses (3.67%), goats (2.48%), and sheep (2.02%). Using a chi-square test, a significant association was found between the prevalence of leech infestation and risk factors such as animal species, sex, age, body condition, and season (p < 0.05). Observation of the water bodies revealed that leeches become more active when the water becomes slightly warmer due to sunlight, and they become especially active when the animals want to drink from the water. The current results indicate that leech infestation is the biggest problem for livestock in the study areas, so cost-effective and environmentally friendly control methods must be used.