Identification, prevalence, distribution of ectoparasites and associated host-related risk factors on domestic animals in district Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan
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Abstract
To determine the type of ectoparasitic fauna, their prevalence, distribution and associated host-related risk factors on domesticated animals in district Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, study was carried out from April 2021-April 2022. Two mite species (Psoroptes ovis, Sarcoptes scabiei), five lice species (Bovicola bovis, Haematopinus quadrpertusis, H. eurysternus, H. tuberculatus, Linognathus vituli), and seven tick species (Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus, Hyalomma dromedarii, H. anatolicum, H. excavatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, and Rhipicephalus singuanieus were identified. H. eurysternus, Sarcoptes scabiei, and H. anatolicum were the most prevalent species with 3.12 and 3.79 and 21.69% prevalence, respectively. The prevalence of H. anatolicum, Rhi. singuanieus, Hae. punctata, Hy. dromedarii, Hy. excavatum, B. decoloratus, A. variegatum, Psoroptes ovis, Sarcoptes scabiei, Bovicola bovis, Haematopinus quadrpertusis, H. eurysternus, H. tuberculatus, and Linognathus vituli were 21.69, 15.71, 13.26, 10.92, 10.82, 5.82, 4.11, 2.86, 3.79, 2.65, 2.08, 3.12, 1.71, and 1.40%, respectively. For all ectoparasites there was no statistical deference (p>0.05) between the prevalence of any of the ectoparasite infestation with sex, age and body condition score. It concluded a high prevalence and diverse ectoparasitic fauna that ultimately caused significant economic losses in the country, so proper control measures should be adopted to manage these ectoparasites in the study area.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Hematophagous ectoparasites; Pakistan; Prevalence; Risk factors