Abstract:
An epidemiological study of small ruminant mange mites was conducted in three
selected agro-ecological zones of Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia, from November 2007
to April 2008. A total of 352 sheep and 376 goats were examined for mange mites
infestation, of which 7 (1.98%) and 22 (5.85%) sheep and goats were found positive
respectively. The genuses of mange mites identified with this study were Demodex
(1.23%) and Sarcoptes (2.61%) of these the genus Sarcoptes was more prevalent in
the study area. The prevalence of mange mites was significantly higher in goats
than in sheep (F=7.141, P=0.008). But age (X2
=0.108, P=0.743) and sex (X2 =0.007,
P=0.79) of the host animals not affected the prevalence of mange mite (There was
higher infestation of small ruminant in the lowland area (F=7.463, P=0.006).
