Amare Eshetu, Tilahun Ayele, Shimelis Mengistu, and Dinaol Belina
The study was conducted from October, 2015 to May, 2016 in Wogera district, North Gondar zone, Ethiopia with the objectives of identifying and estimating the prevalence of sheep ked and lice infestation and to appraise potential risk factors of their attachment to sheep. Out of 423 sheep examined, 71.6% were infested either by Melophagus ovinus (M. ovinus) or Bovicola ovis (B. ovis) or both. The prevalence of M. ovinus and B. ovis were 33.57% and 12.07% respectively. Mixed infestation of M. ovinus and B. ovis (25.53%) were also recorded. The overall prevalence of M. ovinus and B. ovis infestation were significantly varied among the age (χ2=56.52; P=0.00), sex (χ2=14.71; P=0.00) and body condition (χ2=22.52; P=0.00) categories of sheep. The prevalence of M. ovinus in sheep of poor (70.1%) and medium (64.5%) body condition was significantly (χ2=23.29; P=0.00) higher as compared to those of good body (40.5%) condition. Furthermore, the prevalence of M. ovinus was significantly varied with age (χ2=99.26; P=0.00). Similarly, B. ovis prevalence was significantly (χ2=16.56; P=0.00) highest in poor (52.9%) and medium (38.2%) than in good (25%) body condition score group. Moreover, the prevalence of B. ovis was significantly (χ2=7.44; P=0.008) higher in rams (46.5%) than in ewes (33%) but, did not significantly varied with age (p>0.05). Significant differences were noted in harboring mixed B. ovis and M. ovinus infestations among the age (χ2=23.42; P=0.00), sex (χ2=18.41; P=0.00) and body condition (χ2=21.74; P=0.00) groups. In conclusion, further studies on prevalence and economic impacts of infestation of sheep with M. ovinus and B. ovis are recommended.
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