title: Ectoparasites of sheep in three agro-ecological zones in central Oromia, Ethiopia.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for  ectoparasites infestation in sheep in three agro-ecological zones in central Oromia, Ethiopia,  from October 2009 to April 2010. The study revealed that 637 (48.1%) of the 1325 sheep examined  were infested with one or more ectoparasites. The ectoparasites identified were Bovicola ovis (27.2%),  Melophagus ovinus (16.4%),  Ctenocephalides sp. (2.3%), Linognathus africanus (1.2%), Linognathus ovillus  (0.3%), Sarcoptes sp. (1.2%),  Amblyomma variegatum (4.4%), Rhipicephalus  evertsi evertsi (1.9%), Rhipicephalus pravus (1.9%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (1.1%),  Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.9%), Rhipicephalus praetextatus (1.1%) and Hyalomma truncatum (1.6%). Statistically significant difference was observed in prevalence of  B. ovis amongst  study agroecological zones: highland 36.6%, midland 20.9% and lowland 14.0%. Significantly  higher prevalence was recorded in highland agroecological zone. A significantly (OR = 0.041,  p &lt; 0.001) higher prevalence of M. ovinus in the highland (31.7%) than in both the lowland (0%)  and midland (1.9%) was observed. The risk of tick infestation in the lowland and midland was  9.883 times and 13.988 times higher than the risk in the highland, respectively. A significantly  higher prevalence of Ctenocephalides species was encountered in both the lowland (OR = 4.738,  p = 0.011) and midland (OR = 8.078,  p = 0.000) than in the highland agro-ecological zone.  However, a significant difference (p = 0.191) amongst agro-ecological zones was not found for  the prevalence of Linognathus and Sarcoptes species. Statistically significant variation (p &gt; 0.05)  was never recorded in the prevalence of all the identified species of ectoparasites between male  and female sheep hosts. However, a significantly (p = 0.006) higher prevalence of B. ovis was  recorded between young and adult sheep. The risk of B. ovis infestation was 1.45 times higher  in young than the adult sheep. Furthermore, a significantly (p &lt; 0.001) higher prevalence of  M. ovinus, B. ovis and Sarcoptes sp. was found between sheep with poor and a good body  condition. The ever increasing threat of ectoparasites on overall sheep productivity and  tanning industry in Ethiopia warrants urgent control intervention. Further studies on the  role of ectoparasites in transmission of diseases to sheep, zoonotic importance, comparative  prevalence and load, and the importance of sheep as alternative hosts in different agroecological zones, breeds and management systems in Ethiopia are recommended so as to  design applicable control programme in the country.
authors: Department of Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Faculty of Medicine, University of the Mediterranean, France. bersissak@yahoo.com.
authors: Bersissa
authors: B
authors: Kumsa
authors: Kebede
authors: K
authors: Beyecha
authors: Mesula
authors: M
authors: Geloye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004777:Environment; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*