@article {95647, title = {Prevalence of Small Ruminant Ectoparasites and Associated Risk Factors in Selected Districts of Tigray Region, Ethiopia}, journal = {Global Veterinaria}, volume = {7}, year = {2011}, pages = {433-437}, abstract = {

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2009 to May 2010 with the objective of estimating the prevalence of ectoparasites in small ruminants and identifying the potential risk factors in selected areas of Tigray region. A total of 991 small ruminants (600 sheep and 391 goats) were examined for presence of ectoparasites. Accordingly, a total of 310 (51.7 \%) sheep and 233 (59.6\%) goats were found infested with one or more ectoparasites. The overall prevalence for both host species was 54.8\% (n=543). The major identified ectoparasites in sheep were ticks (48\%), sheep ked (6.7\%) and lice (1.3\%) and in goats were ticks (58.8\%), lice (6.1\%) and fleas (3.1\%). Among the risk factors, agro-climatic zone, body condition score, flock size and flock type were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of ectoparasites in the study area. The prevalence of ectoparasites infestation was significantly higher in small ruminants of the lowland and midland, small ruminants with poor body condition score, large flocks and mixed flocks than in their contemporaries within the same comparison category (P \< 0.001). To reduce the high prevalence and impact of ectoparasites on small ruminants appropriate and strategic control measure; extension service aiming at creation of awareness about the importance and control of ectoparasites for smallholder farmers is needed.

}, keywords = {Ectoparasites Prevalence Risk factors Small ruminants}, url = {https://www.idosi.org/gv/GV7(5)11/4.pdf}, author = {Rahmeto Abebe and Makelesh Tatek and Bekele Megersa and Desie Sheferaw} }