Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ectoparasite in Ruminants in and Around Shashemene Town

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 with the aim of studying the prevalence of ectoparasites of economic importance in ruminants in and around Shashemene town. A total of 412 (224 cattle, 102 sheep and 86 goats) were included in this study. Out of these animals 228 (55.3%) animals were infested by one or more species of ectoparasites. Of a total of examined animals; 120 (53.6%) of cattle, 65 (63.7%) of sheep and 43 (50.0%) of goats were positive for various species of ectoparasites. The major ectoparasites recorded in the present study were, ticks with prevalence of 36.6% in cattle, 15.7% in sheep and 10.5% in goats; lice 21.4% in cattle, 35.3% in sheep and 30.2% in goats, mange mite 8.0% in cattle, 8.8% in sheep and 15.1% in goats; fleas 3.1% in cattle, 12.7% in sheep and 8.1% in goats and sheep ked 24.5% in sheep. This study has revealed that lice were the predominant ectoparasites followed by mange mite and fleas in goats; ticks were the predominant followed by lice and mite in cattle and lice were the predominant followed by sheep ked and fleas in sheep. The genus Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophillus) was the most prevalent ticks in cattle, Damalina was the most prevalent lice in the sheep but lower in the cattle and Sarcoptes was the most prevalent mange mite in the goats and Demodex was predominant mite species in the cattle. Ticks and sheep ked were found show significant (P<0.05) association with species of animals while fleas showed significant difference with both species of animals and sex. The present study has shown that ectoparasites are among important causes of skin damage which is likely to cause significant economic loss. To reduce this loss management practices should be practiced to control infestations of valuable animals.