TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION (a) Name three farm animal hosts of specimen O (TICK) (b) State four damages done by each of specimens N (LIVER FLUKE) ...

Answer Details

(a) Three farm animal hosts of Specimen O (Tick)

• Cattle
• Sheep
• Goat (dogs and horses are also hosts)

(b) Four damages done by each specimen on their hosts

Specimen N (Liver fluke)

• It destroys liver tissue, causing liver rot (fascioliasis).
• It causes anaemia by feeding on blood and liver cells.
• It leads to loss of weight and emaciation.
• It lowers productivity (meat and milk) and can cause death in heavy infestation; the liver is condemned at slaughter.

Specimen O (Tick)

• It sucks blood, causing anaemia and weakness.
• It transmits diseases such as redwater (babesiosis), heartwater and anaplasmosis.
• Its bites create wounds that admit secondary infection and attract flies (myiasis).
• It causes irritation and restlessness that reduce feeding and productivity, and it damages the hide.

(c) Four ways of controlling Specimen O (Tick)

• Dip or spray the animals regularly with an acaricide.
• Hand-pick and destroy the ticks on the animals.
• Practise rotational grazing to break the tick's life cycle.
• Clear bushes around the pasture and quarantine and treat newly introduced animals.