02601nas a2200325   4500008004100000245006900041210006800110260000900178300001400187490000700201520160800208653002101816653001201837653001101849653001201860653001701872653000901889653005601898653001901954653001501973653001201988653001002000653005502010653005602065653001002121100002002131700002102151700003002172856007302202       2000                        eng d00aDiversity of ectoparasites in sheep flocks in São Paulo, Brazil0 aDiversity of ectoparasites in sheep flocks in São Paulo Brazil  c2000  a225 - 2320 v323 aThe occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sao Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the 'Associacao Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sao Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.10aAnimal Husbandry10aanimals10aBrazil10aDiptera10aectoparasite10alice10aLice Infestations/economics/epidemiology/veterinary10aQuestionnaires10aScrew Worm10aSeasons10asheep10aSheep Diseases/economics/epidemiology/parasitology10aTick Infestations/economics/epidemiology/veterinary10aticks1 aMadeira, N., G.1 aAmarante, A., F.1 aPadovani, Carlos, Roberto  uhttp://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/44992.pdf