Abstract
A cross-sectional study on ectoparasites of sheep (n = 134) and goats (n = 250) was conducted in Kombolcha district, east Hararge zone Oromia regional state, east Ethiopia, from November 2018 to April 2019 to determine the prevalence of major lice infestation of sheep and goats and the associated risk factors. Out of the examined animals (384), 56 (41.8%) sheep and 88 (22.9%) goats were infested with Damalinia and Linognathus species of lice, respectively. Ewes and does were 3.6 times more at risk for Damalinia ovis than rams and bucks, and young ones were 2.1 times more at risk than adults. Animals with poor body condition scores were 6.9 times more at risk for Linognathus species than those with good body condition small ruminants (P < 0.05). The observed overall prevalence is generally relatively high which may result in enormous economic losses through decreased production and productivity, damages to the skin, and deaths of the animal which requires an immediate professional and governmental attention.
Highlights
Ethiopia has a population of about 59.5 million cattle, 30.7 million sheep, and 30.2 million goats
In Ethiopia, small ruminants constitute about 30% of the total livestock population of the country and are among important contributors to food production in Ethiopia, providing 35% of meat consumption and 14% of milk consumption [2]
Lice are among the major diseases of small ruminants and cause serious economic loss to farmers through mortality, decreased production and reproduction, down grading, and rejection of skins which affect the tanning industries [5]
Summary
Ethiopia has a population of about 59.5 million cattle, 30.7 million sheep, and 30.2 million goats. In Ethiopia, small ruminants constitute about 30% of the total livestock population of the country and are among important contributors to food production in Ethiopia, providing 35% of meat consumption and 14% of milk consumption [2]. Sheep and goats account for about 90% of the live animal/meat and 92% of skin and hide export trade value [3]. Poor health and productivity of animals due to disease has become the major stumbling block to the potential of the livestock industry [4]. Lice are among the major diseases of small ruminants and cause serious economic loss to farmers through mortality, decreased production and reproduction, down grading, and rejection of skins which affect the tanning industries [5]. Tanneries reported that 35% of sheep skins and 56% of goats’ skins are rejected due to external parasites, and out of the reject groups of the processed skins, about 80 to 90% of the defects were believed to be due to external parasites. e estimated economic loss due to drop in the quality of sheep and goat skins is around USD 25.8 million per year [6]
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