Abstract:
The ectoparasites can affect productivity, hide quality and be a source of
secondary infection in goats and sheep. This study investigated the
prevalence of ectoparasites infestation in goats and sheep in Addalaichenai
DS division in Sri Lanka. Goats (n=95) and sheep (n=83) were sampled and
ectoparasites were collected from identified body regions. The data were
analysed using Chi-Square test. The results showed that 89.33% of sampled
animals were infested with one or more ectoparasites. The ectoparasites in
goats were Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ctenocephalides felis, Linognathus
stenopsis and Bovicola ovis with a prevalence of 65.25%, 6.31%, 65.26%
and 0% respectively whereas the prevalence in sheep were 60.24%, 0%,
4.81% and 44.57% respectively. The association of age and sex of goats and
sheep with ectoparasites infestation was not significant (p <0.05). The
presence of Haemaphysalis longicornis, Linognathus stenopsis in different
body regions of goats and sheep was significantly different (p<0.05),
however, the presence of Bovicola ovis in sheep and Ctenocephalides felis in
goats in different body regions was not significantly different (p<0.05). The
comparison of the infestation in goats and sheep showed that the association
of Ctenocephalides felis, Linognathus stenopsis and Bovicola ovis was
significantly different, however, the association of Haemaphysalis
longicornis was not significantly different (p<0.05). It is concluded that
Haemaphysalis longicornis was highly prevalent in goats and sheep,
whereas, Linognathus stenopsis highly prevalent in goats only which could
affect the wellbeing and productivity of goats and sheep in the study area.
Farmer education on the management of the highly prevalent ectoparasites
are recommended in the study area.
