Prevalence of ectoparasites in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) brought for slaughter in the Gwagwalada area, Abuja, Nigeria

Ectoparasites from the bodies of 600 slaughtered goats between the ages of 1 and 50 months, collected within a period of 10 months (February to November 2005), were isolated using fractionation techniques. Collected data were analysed by χ²‐test. A total of 60 of the 600 goats examined (10.00%) were infected with ectoparasites. The prevalent ectoparasites observed were species of Rhipicephalus (28 goats; 4.67%), Boophilus (8 goats; 1.33%), Amblyomma (6 goats; 1.00%), Hyalomma (6 goats; 1.00%), Linognathus (18 goats; 3.00%) and Damalina (1 goat; 0.17%). The infection rates according to age and sex of goats were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Goats were observed to have single or multiple infections of ectoparasites. More goats (46) had a single infection than a multiple infection (14). Regarding distribution of the ectoparasites on the various sites of the animal body, it was observed that lice preferred the head, back, ears and belly, while ticks were found in the hooves and interdigital spaces as well as at the sites listed for lice.