Aspects of epidemiology of ectoparasite infestation of sheep and goats in Makurdi, North Central, Nigeria.

A total of 416 sheep and 624 goats under different management systems in peri-urban areas of Makurdi were examined for ectoparasite infestations for a period of 6 months, October to March 2004. Ninety one (21.9%) sheep and 149 (23.9%) goats were infested with various types of ectoparasites. Ectoparasites identified, and the number of sheep infested were ticks 37 (40.7%), fleas 20 (22.0%), lice 18 (19.8%) and mites 16 (17.6%). For goats, they were ticks 47 (31.5%), fleas 34 (22.8%), lice 39 (26.2%) and mites 29 (19.5%). The commonest species of ticks observed were, Rhipicephalus evertsi and Amblyomma variegatum while the commonest of mites was Psoroptes communis . Lignognathus species and Bovicola species were the lice observed, and the fleas was Ctenocephalidis felis . The level of infestation was highest in extensive (27.0%) and lowest in intensive (7.2%) systems of management. The possibility of transmission of arthropod borne pathogens to humans is high considering the common co-habitation of the animals and man. Routine and strategic control measures should be factored into production to increase profit and health.