Identification and Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Cattle and Sheep in and Around Bishoftu Town, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October, 2010 to May, 2011 on a total of 384 cattle and sheep to identify the major ectoparasites and to determine their prevalence in and around Bishoftu town, central Ethiopia. Out of 202 cattle and 182 sheep examined for ectoparasites, 95 (47.0%) cattle and 73 (40.1%) sheep were found to be infested with one or more ectoparasites. Overall eight genera of ectoparasites belonging to ticks (Boophilus, Amblyomma, Rhepicephalus and Hyalomma), lice (Damalina and Linognathus) and mange mite (Demodex spp and Psoroptes spp) were encountered in the study area. Prevalence of tick infestation was 35.2% (71/202) in cattle and 26.9% (49/182) in sheep. Among the risk factors assessed, female animals (cattle: χ2=5.4, P=0.020; sheep: χ2=5.5, P=0.019) and production system (cattle: χ2=29.4, P=0.000; sheep: χ2=10.3, P=0.001) were significantly associated with prevalence of tick infestation. The prevalence of pediculosis was 8.9% and 12.6% in bovine and ovine, respectively. Sex (χ2=19.3; P=0.000) and breed (χ2=4.6; P=0.033) in cattle, and production system in both cattle (χ2=5.5; P=0.020) and sheep (χ2=6.4; P=0.040) were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of pediculosis. The prevalence of demodicosis and psoroptic mange in cattle was 6.6% and 0.6%, respectively. However, the only mange mite species encountered in sheep was Psoroptes with the prevalence rate of 2.2%. Age in cattle (χ2=14.0; P=0.000) and sheep (χ2=3.8; P=0.040), and body condition in cattle (χ2=7.7; P=0.021) were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of mange mite infestation. The present study revealed that widespread occurrence of ectoparasites in cattle and sheep in the study area, and the major ectoparasites identified were tick, lice and mange mite, thus, improved management practice and well-coordinated control interventions are required.