Current Status of Ectoparasites in Sheep and Management Practices against the Problem in Ectoparasites Controlled and Uncontrolled Areas of Arsi Zone in Oromia Region, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of sheep in ectoparasites controlled and uncontrolled areas, assess major risk factors and evaluate effects of ectoparasites on livelihood of farmer in ectoparasites controlled and uncontrolled areas of Arsi zone. A total of 969 sheep (646 sheep from controlled and 323 sheep from uncontrolled areas) were examined for ectoparasites. From controlled 371 (57.43%) and from uncontrolled area 285 (88.24%) were found to be infested with ectoparasites. The ectoparasites identified in controlled area were B. ovis 48.9%, Linognathus spp 0.93%, sheep keds 7.4%, 2.32% B. decoloratus, 1.46% A. variegatum, 1.08% A. gemma, 4.59% R. evertsi evertsi, and 0.31% mixed ticks infestation and 12.5% mixed infestation with various ectoparasites. Similarly from uncontrolled area identified B. ovis 81.4%, Linognathus spp 0.9%, 1.79% B. decoloratus, 2.62% A. variegatum, 9.29% R. evertsi evertsi, 4.3% mixed ticks infestation and 32.2% mixed infestation. The risk of ectoparasites infestation of sheep in uncontrolled area was 5.644 times higher than in controlled (OR=5.644). Significantly higher prevalence of ectoparasites in the uncontrolled area than controlled was recorded. The risk of lice, keds and tick infestations in uncontrolled area was 7.061, 3.836 and 2.074 times higher than controlled areas respectively. Poor animal management and weak animal health services were believed to have attributed for widespread distribution of ectoparasites. The effectiveness of ectoparasites control in selected zones of Oromiya region is also under question the. The growing threat of ectoparasites to sheep population in the study areas requires well-coordinated control intervention.