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 evertsiwith a prevalence of 58 (56.86%),Amblyomma gemma12 (11.76%),Amblyomma variegatum27 (26.47%),Boophilus decoloratus7 (6.86%), andHyalomma anatolicum excavatum1 (0.98%) in sheep andR.evertsi evertsi108 (33.02%),A.gemma8 (2.47%),A.variegatum158 (48.77%), andR.B.decoloratus19 (5.86%) in goats were the most important tick species identified. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was obtained in the prevalence ofA.gemma(x2 = 14.981;p=0.001) andA.variegatum(x2 = 15.696;p=0.001) between sheep and goats andR.B.decloratus(x2 = 8.137;p=0.017),A.variegatum(x2 = 90.159;p=0.00p=0.00), andA.gamma(x2 = 18.642;p=0.00) in goats andA.variegatum(x2 = 71.081;p=0.00) andR.B.decloratus(x2 = 28.980;p=0.001) in sheep by agroecology.R.evertsi evertsi(x2 = 13.400;p=0.001) andA.variegatum(x2 = 13.511;p=0.001) in goats andR.B.decoloratus(x2 = 71.892;p=0.001) andA.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) andR.B.decoloratus(x2 = 4.856;p=0.028) in goats andR.evertsi evertsi(x2 = 5.776;p=0.016) in sheep by sex group andR.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 ofR.evertsi evertsi(x2 = 7.136;p=0.008),R.B.decoloratus(x2 = 9.621;p=0.002), andA.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 thatLinognathus stenopsiswas 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 ofL.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 canisandCtenocephalides feliswere the flea species found in the present report. Significant variation (p<0.05) inC.canisprevalence 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.capreawith 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.