title: Mites of sheep and goats in Oromia Zone of Amhara Region, North Eastern Ethiopia: species, prevalence and farmers awareness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mites are one of the most common and widely distributed ectoparasites of small ruminants in Ethiopia, contributing to major hindrances in livestock productivity in the country. Despite of this fact, specific study was not conducted on mites of small ruminants in Ethiopia. Therefore, the present study was performed from October 2009 to May 2010 to determine the prevalence and species composition of mites in three agroecological zones in north eastern Ethiopia. In addition, a questionnaire survey on mites was conducted to assess the control practices and awareness of farmers in the study areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 1280 sheep and 1264 goats examined, 97(7.6 %) of sheep and 174(13.8 %) goats were infested with one or more species of mites. In goats an overall prevalence of 10.3 % Sarcoptes, 2.8 % Demodex and 0.6 % Psoroptes were recorded whereas in sheep an overall prevalence of 3.5 % Sarcoptes, 2.1 % Demodex and 1.6 % Psoroptes were observed. Sarcoptes (P = 0.03; OR = 2.1) and Demodex (OR = 3.25; p = 0.004) were significantly more common in young than in adult sheep. Demodectic mange was significantly higher in young (4.1 %) compared to adult (2.3 %) goats (OR = 2.2; P = 0.02). Significantly higher (P < 0.01) overall prevalence of sarcoptic and demodectic mites in both sheep and goats with poor than with good body condition was recorded. Results of the questionnaire survey supported results of our cross-sectional study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates high prevalence of mange mites in sheep and goats of the study area. The study revealed that Sarcoptes is the predominant mite in both sheep and goats. Animal owners and veterinarians should consider mite control in small ruminants as part of the routine ectoparasite control in Ethiopia.
authors.affiliation: Wollo University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology and Parasitology Team, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia. jen45ahm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasine
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia. bersissak@yahoo.com.|Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Marseille, 13005, France. bersissak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bersissa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia. yamilaya2008@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yacob
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia. dinka_ayana@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dinka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayana
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008925:Mites / Q000145:classification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires