Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2015.224.231Ovis aries L.) and Goats (Capra hirus L.) in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria]]>AdangK. L.AyubaJ. YoriyoK. P.52015185A study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of sheep and goats in Gombe between March and June 2011. A total of 312 animals comprising of 155 sheep and 157 goats were examined and using the hand picking and hair brushing methods, ectoparasites present on the animals were collected. Of the 312 animals examined, 30 sheep representing 19.4% and 22 goats representing 14.0% were infested. The ectoparasites identified on sheep were Lice: Damalinia ovis 6 (3.9%), Ticks: Rhipicephalus sp. 5 (3.2%), Amblyomma sp. 9 (5.8%), Boophilus sp. 10 (6.5%) and Fleas: Ctenocephalides felis 8 (5.2%). The ectoparasites identified on goats were Lice: Damalinia ovis 6 (3.8%), Ticks: Rhipicephalus sp. 8 (5.1%), Amblyomma sp. 2 (1.3%), Boophilus sp. 5 (3.2%), Ixodes ricinus 3 (1.9%), Hyalomma sp. 4 (2.5%) and Mites: Sarcoptes scabiei 3 (1.3%). Ectoparasite infestations were higher in young animals; 11 (19.6%) in sheep and 15 (22.7%) in goats than in adult animals; 19 (19.2%) in sheep and 7 (7.7%) in goats. Female animals of 21 (24.1%) sheep and 17 (22.4%) goats were more infested than male animals of 9 (13.2%) sheep and 5 (6.2%) goats. Single infestations recorded in 22 (14.2%) sheep and 13 (8.3%) goats were higher than double infestations recorded in 8 (5.2%) sheep and 9 (5.7%) goats. The highest mean ectoparasite burden was 14.0±1.2 per host and the lowest mean ectoparasite burden was 1.6±1.9 per host in both sheep and goats. Chi square test revealed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations between sheep and goats, in age of sheep and goats, in sex and age of sheep, in single and double infestations of sheep and goats (p>0.05) but revealed statistically significant differences in sex of sheep and goats, in sex and age of goats (p<0.05). The study concludes that ectoparasites are common to both sheep and goats in Gombe and could affect their health and productivity as well as their economic and market value.]]>Anyanwu, W.,1998Pages: 224Pages: 224Amuamata, A., A. Kassahun and T. Fentahun,20126170176Barmon, S.C., A.K. Paul, M.A. Dina, N. Begum, M.M.H. Mondal and M.M. Rahman,201011519Bowman, D.D., R.C. Lynn and J.R. Georgi,19997th Edn.,Pages: 414Pages: 414Brito, D.R., A.C. Santos and R.M. Guerra,2005145963, (In Portuguese)Chakrabarti, A.,199423122126Cornall, K. and R. Wall,2015207176179Cumming, G.S.,199888379406Gatenby, M.R.,19911991pp: 6-11pp: 6-11George, J.B.D., S. Otobo, J. Ogunleye and B. Adediminiyi,199224121124Anonymous,20032003Hashemi-Fesharki, R., M. Maroli, M. Ghirotti and J.J. De-Castro,19941994Lloyd, S.,19834153176James-Rugu, N.N.,200013543Jonsson, N.,20042004Kagira, J. and P.W.N. Kanyari,200172147149Lehmann, T.,19939813Loomis, E.C.,19841984pp: 667-704pp: 667-704Mbuh, J.V., K.J.N. Ndamukong, N. Ntonifor and G.F. Nforlem,2008156350352Mohammad, A.N. and I.R.S. Agbede,19801980Yakhchali, M. and A. Hosseine,200676431442Elsaid, M.M., E.O. El-Arifi and A.A. El-Buni,20139359363Mulugeta, Y., H.T. Yacob and H. Ashenafi,20104212191224Neog, R., M.R. Borkakoty and B.C. Lahkar,199269891893Obi, Z.C., L. Anyaegbunam and M.K.N. Orji,201412729Ohaeri, C.C. and A.U. Ugwu,20135163172Omudu, E.A. and E.U. Amuta,2007784045Onojafe, J.O.,20082008pp: 45Osman, A.M.,199739139142Otesile, E.B. and M.F. Obasaju,198011425Schillhorn van Veen, T.J. and A.N. Mohammed,197549396Shah-Fischer, M. and R.R. Say,1989Pages: 473Pages: 473Soulsby, E.J.L.,19827th Edn.,pp: 375-502pp: 375-502SPSS.,1999Steele, M.R.,19961996pp: 79-86pp: 79-86Sertse, T. and A. Wossene,2007695561Ugochukwu, E.I. and A.O. Apeh,198512313317Urquhart, G.M., J. Armour, J.L. Duncan, A.M. Dunn and F.W. Jennings,19962nd Edn.,pp: 141-205pp: 141-205Walker, A.R. and A. Bouattour,20031st Edn.,Pages: 221Pages: 221Wall, R. and D. Shearer,20012nd Edn.,pp: 23-54pp: 23-54Yacob, H.T., T.A. Yalew and A.A. Dinka,2008159450454Yishak, I., A. Tsegalem and B.U. Wakayo,20157140144