Identification of Major Ectoparasites Infesting Sheep in Aba Jima District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to July 2014 with the objectives of determine the prevalence and identifying ectoparasites infesting sheep in Aba Jima districts. A total of 646 sheep were examined for presence of ectoparasites. Accordingly, from the total sheep examined 570 (88.24%) were infested with one or more ectoparasites. The ectoparasites identified from were 81.4% B. ovis, 0.9% Linognathus spp, 19.2% sheep keds, 1.79% B. decoloratus, 2.62% A. variegatum, 9.29% R. evertsi evertsi, 4.3% mixed tick infestation and 32.2% mixed ectoparasite infestation. Age, sex, body condition, management and hair type were not shown association with ectoparasite infestation. However, significantly high prevalence of tick and M. ovinus were recorded in female and wooly sheep (p<0.05). Favorable climatic conditions, poor husbandry and animal management, lack of farmer’s awareness regarding to the importance of ectoparasite, and weak animal health extension services are believed to have contributed for widespread distribution and occurrences of ectoparasites.