Samson Amanuel - Addis Ababa University
Temesgen Kassa - Ethiopian institute of agricultural research

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November ۲۰۱۸ to April ۲۰۱۹ to evaluate the occurrence of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases in ruminants in and around Bishoftu town, central Ethiopia. A total of ۴۳۷ ruminants (۲۱۶ cattle, ۱۴۱ sheep, and ۸۰ goats) brought to the open-air Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, were sampled using simple random sampling. Accordingly, the occurrence of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases was found to be ۵۹% (۲۵۸), and out of these animals, ۱۹۵ (۴۴.۶%) were infected with ectoparasites, of which ۱۱۱ (۲۵.۴%) were bovine, ۲۷ (۶.۲%) were caprine, and ۵۷ (۱۳%) were ovine. The major ectoparasite species identified were Amblyomma variegatum (۱۳%), A. gemma (۰.۷%), A. cohaerens (۱.۸%), A. nymph (۳.۲%), H. truncatum (۲.۷%), Boophilus decoloratus (۶.۲%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (۱.۸%), R. eversi (۰.۷%), Damalinia ovis (۳%), Linognatus vituli (۵.۵%), Psoroptes (۰.۷%), Demodex bovis (۰.۵%), Ctenocephalides canis (۰.۷%) and Ct. felis (۵.۰۳). On the other hand, the associated skin diseases infesting animals were: ۶۳ (۱۴.۴%), lumpy skin disease (۰.۹%), sheep pox (۵.۵%), goat pox (۵%), dermatophilosis (۰.۲%), contagious ecthyma in caprine (۲.۱%), and contagious ecthyma in ovine (۰.۷%). The findings of the present study suggest that ectoparasites and associated skin diseases in and around Bishoftu are still widespread and economically important constraints for the productivity and use of ruminants. Hence, stringent adherence to the control of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases is required as a responsibility of the concerned government body based on professional research results in the study area.A cross-sectional study was conducted from November ۲۰۱۸ to April ۲۰۱۹ to evaluate the occurrence of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases in ruminants in and around Bishoftu town, central Ethiopia. A total of ۴۳۷ ruminants (۲۱۶ cattle, ۱۴۱ sheep, and ۸۰ goats) brought to the open-air Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, were sampled using simple random sampling. Accordingly, the occurrence of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases was found to be ۵۹% (۲۵۸), and out of these animals, ۱۹۵ (۴۴.۶%) were infected with ectoparasites, of which ۱۱۱ (۲۵.۴%) were bovine, ۲۷ (۶.۲%) were caprine, and ۵۷ (۱۳%) were ovine. The major ectoparasite species identified were Amblyomma variegatum (۱۳%), A. gemma (۰.۷%), A. cohaerens (۱.۸%), A. nymph (۳.۲%), H. truncatum (۲.۷%), Boophilus decoloratus (۶.۲%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (۱.۸%), R. eversi (۰.۷%), Damalinia ovis (۳%), Linognatus vituli (۵.۵%), Psoroptes (۰.۷%), Demodex bovis (۰.۵%), Ctenocephalides canis (۰.۷%) and Ct. felis (۵.۰۳). On the other hand, the associated skin diseases infesting animals were: ۶۳ (۱۴.۴%), lumpy skin disease (۰.۹%), sheep pox (۵.۵%), goat pox (۵%), dermatophilosis (۰.۲%), contagious ecthyma in caprine (۲.۱%), and contagious ecthyma in ovine (۰.۷%). The findings of the present study suggest that ectoparasites and associated skin diseases in and around Bishoftu are still widespread and economically important constraints for the productivity and use of ruminants. Hence, stringent adherence to the control of ectoparasites and associated skin diseases is required as a responsibility of the concerned government body based on professional research results in the study area.

Associated skin disease, Ectoparasite, Prevalence, Ruminants