Abstract            Volume:14  Issue-10  Year-2026         Original Research Articles

Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com

Lice infestation is an important ectoparasitic problem affecting the health, productivity, and skin quality of small ruminants. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of lice infestation and identify associated risk factors in sheep and goats in and around Jigjiga, eastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2021 on 384 indigenous small ruminants selected for clinical examination. Data on species, age, sex, body condition score, and sampling month were recorded. Lice were identified through clinical examination and morphological assessment of collected specimens. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to assess associations between infestation and potential risk factors, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Overall, 189 animals were infested, giving a prevalence of 49.2%. The prevalence was significantly higher in goats (53.9%) than in sheep (39.8%) (P = 0.001). Body condition score was also significantly associated with infestation (P < 0.001), with the highest prevalence in animals with poor body condition (58.2%), followed by those with medium (53.5%) and good (26.7%) body condition. No statistically significant associations were observed with age, sex, or sampling month (P > 0.05). Linognathus ovillus was the predominant louse species, accounting for 56.6% of infestations, followed by Damalinia ovis (39.2%); mixed infestations accounted for 4.2%. Severe infestation was observed in 44.4% of infested animals. In conclusion, lice infestation was common among small ruminants in and around Jigjiga, particularly in goats and animals with poor body condition. Targeted ectoparasite control and improved animal health and husbandry practices are recommended to reduce the burden of infestation and its potential production losses.

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