INVESTIGATION OF CAPRINE ECTOPARASITIC INFESTATIONS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

An epidemiological study was carried out on ectoparasites of goat in two geographically different southern districts (Comilla and Chittagong) of Bangladesh, from May 2013 to August 2013. Goats were sampled randomly from Comilla district (UVH and villages of Laksam upazila) and from Chittagong metropolitan areas including SAQTVH. A total 535 goats examined (155 from Comilla, and 380 from Chittagong), 25.61% (137) of goats (41.9% for Comilla goats and 19.0% for Chittagong goats) were infested by one or more parasites. The results showed that the parasitic load is little bit higher in Comilla district than Chittagong. The most common ectoparasites encountered in order of their predominance of Comilla and Chittagong were lice (22.58, 3.16%), tick (8.39, 3.43%), flies (3.79, 7.89%), mite (1.95, 3.17%), flea (0, 0.79%) and multiple (12.31, 4.71%) respectively. The identification showed three different genuses of tick (Haemophysalis, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus), two species of lice (Linognathus stenopsis and Damalina caprae) and one species of flea (Cctenocephalides sp). In addition, the main attachment sites of lice detected were neck, back, belly, tail, thigh and face while that of ticks were ear, head, face and neck. The infestation rate of ectoparasites was not statistically different between sex, body condition and age in the whole population. However, the analysis showed as if there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05%) in the prevalence of lice with nutritional status of goat while it was relatively higher in poor health conditions (62.04%) than healthy animals (11.68%). Therefore, to reduce high prevalence of ectoparasites, proper and planned control measure by creating awareness about the importance and control of ectoparasites for farmers is needed.