Epidemiological Distribution of Major Ectoparasites Species of Small Ruminant in the Case of Chemical Control Campaign in Welkait District, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to May 2017 to identify the major ectoparasites species and potential risk factors in Welkait district western part of Tigray region. A total of 102 sheep and 324 goats were physically examined and samples were taken for laboratory analysis. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi with a prevalence of 58 (56.86%), Amblyomma gemma 12 (11.76%), Amblyomma variegatum 27 (26.47%), Boophilus decoloratus 7 (6.86%), and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum 1 (0.98%) in sheep and R. evertsi evertsi 108 (33.02%), A. gemma 8 (2.47%), A. variegatum 158 (48.77%), and R. B. decoloratus 19 (5.86%) in goats were the most important tick species identified. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was obtained in the prevalence of A. gemma (x2 = 14.981; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 15.696; p=0.001) between sheep and goats and R. B. decloratus (x2 = 8.137; p=0.017), A. variegatum (x2 = 90.159; p=0.00p=0.00), and A. gamma (x2 = 18.642; p=0.00) in goats and A. variegatum (x2 = 71.081; p=0.00) and R. B. decloratus (x2 = 28.980; p=0.001) in sheep by agroecology. R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 13.400; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 13.511; p=0.001) in goats and R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 71.892; p=0.001) and A. gemma (x2 = 6.414; p = 0.040) in sheep were found to have statistically significant association (p<0.05) in the prevalence among different body condition categories in the present study. R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 6.557; p=0.010) and R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 4.856; p=0.028) in goats and R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 5.776; p=0.016) in sheep by sex group and R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 40.556; p=0.001) and A. variegatum (x2 = 7.214; p=0.007) in goats by age group were also statistically associated (p<0.05). Infestation rate of R. evertsi evertsi (x2 = 7.136; p=0.008), R. B. decoloratus (x2 = 9.621; p=0.002), and A. variegatum (x2 = 10.372; p=0.001) in goats between flock type had statistically significant association (p<0.05) in this study. The current result revealed that Linognathus stenopsis was the second highest prevalent ectoparasite with an overall prevalence of 0.00% in sheep and 25.93% in goats. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence of L. stenopsis (x2 = 32.940; p=0.001) between the two species and in body condition category (x2 = 10.700; p=0.005) in goats in the present study. Moreover, Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis were the flea species found in the present report. Significant variation (p<0.05) in C. canis prevalence among different agroecology (x2 = 10.264; p=0.006) in goats and between adult and young age (x2 = 5.052; p=0.025) in sheep and (x2 = 21.267; p=0.001) in goats was obtained in the present study. Sarcoptes scapie var. caprea with a prevalence of 0 (0.00%) in sheep and 4 (1.23%) in goats had no significant association (p>0.05) in all the risk factors considered. The present result indicated that ectoparasites especially tick species were more prevalent in small ruminants and may affect the wellbeing and productivity of goats and sheep in the study district. Therefore, well-coordinated and urgent control intervention should be conducted.

Morphological and Molecular Detection of Oestrus ovis Isolated from Goats in Babylon Province, Iraq

“…Reports of oestrosis have come in from all over the globe, including many Asian nations as well as European and African nations bordering the Mediterranean [19]. From an epidemiological perspective, sheep and goats worldwide are infested by the disease has a substantial impact on the Iraqi small ruminant industry, resulting in enormous economic losses [20][21][22] the control of this condition depends on treatment with macrocyclic lactones and nitroxinil Reinfections are common, and controlling nasal bots is not so simple [23][24][25]. The present study aimed to conduct morphological and molecular characterization of O. ovis larvae obtained from goats at a slaughterhouse in Babylon city, Iraq.…”