The
domestic cat (Felis catus) is one of the most favorite animal and companion
of humans in many parts of the world. This may be due to their attractive
nature, good appearance and also their ability to control the population of
pest in and around their habitat. They are mostly found in areas of human
presence. Other than humans, domestic cat also interacts with other pets and
animals within and outside human houses.

Domestic cat population serves as an
important host to different medically and veterinary important parasites and
because they interact with the environment and other animals around, they are also
important hosts for various ectoparasites (Borji et al., 2011). Ectoparasites
are vectors of zoonotic pathogens such as, Lyme disease, Powassan encephalitis,
plague, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, trypanosomiasis, and tularemia (Nelder and
Reeves, 2005). Some ectoparasitic arthropods are irritating pests of humans and
domestic animals, regardless of their significance as vectors of disease. In
fact, Jittapalapong et al. (2008) reported infested stray domestic cats to
be virtually the source of many zoonotic diseases such as rabies, cat-scratch
disease, ehrlichiosis and toxoplasmosis and easily spread the diseases to house
animals by contact. The potential of diseases transmission from domestic cats
to the human being is high as the domestic cats share the same habitat with the
human being.

Ectoparasites are
organisms which spend all or part of their life cycles on the external of
another organism, the host, and in the process extract nutriment from it for
survival (Cable, 1988). Ectoparasites are a common and important cause of
pruritic and nonpruritic skin disorders in cats. Ectoparasites can transmit a
variety of diseases and cause hypersensitivity disorders in animals. They also
may cause life-threatening anemia in young or debilitated animals (Araujo et al., 1998). However, most cats with
ectoparasites have no clinical symptoms.

The prevalence of
ectoparasites on domestic cats and other domestic animal depends on the rate of
proliferation of the ectoparasites which is influenced by the environmental
condition, humidity and temperature of the habitat (Akucewich et al., 2002;
Nuchjangreed and Somprasong, 2007; Jittapalapong et al., 2008;
Paramasvaran et al., 2009; Mendes-de-Almeida et al., 2011).
Furthermore, Jittapalapong et al., (2008) also state that socio-economy
also seemed one of the important factors for the prevalence of the
ectoparasites as increasing cost of living may cause the pet owners least
concern and unaffordability to manage their pet’s health.

The relationship of domestic
cats with other animal also can contribute to the prevalence of ectoparasites as
the ectoparasites can be transmitted from other animal host (Paramasvaran et
al., 2009). The advance in transportation system and relocation of infested
animal also can influence the prevalence and the infestation rate of
ectoparasites on domestic cats and other animal at that particular area
(Nuchjangreed and Somprasong, 2007). The ectoparasites are comprised from many
groups of parasitic animals. The common ectoparasites infesting the domestic
cats belong to four groups which are fleas, mites, lice and ticks. Ticks are
however one of the most common found around the tropics.

Ticks are bloodsucking
arthropod parasites of the skin. Tick infestation may be noted in outdoor cats.
However, the infestation is less serious than the diseases they transmit. The
species reported most frequently infesting cats are Dermacentor variabilis,
Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma spp and Ixodes spp
(Sosna and Medleau, 1992). The impact of ticks and tick borne diseases on the individual
and national economics warrants application of appropriate tick control strategies
on priority basis (Bansal, 2005).

Most of the
investigations on prevalence of tick species in Africa (Nigeria) are more than
a decade old (Perry et al., 1975;
Minjauw and McLeod, 2003), whereas periodical monitoring of tick infestation is
an essential component for formulating effective control measures and
recommendations.

1.1  Statement
of research problem