INFESTATION STUDY OF ECTOPARASITIC FAUNA ON SOME DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN AYEDIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

The zoological and epidemiological examination of Ectoparasite on some domestic Animals was carried out under open laboratory survey. 100 numbers of Sheep, 100 number of Dogs, 100 number of Goats, and 100 numbers of Cattle were examined for infestation. Structured questionnaire was administered in five (5) sampled communities’ areas within the study area. The villages were purposely chosen due to their proximity to the forest zone. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on the infestation rate of Ectoparasite fauna on some domestic animals in the Local Government Area. A total of hundred respondents were randomly selected and interviewed. The study revealed that the domestic animals were infested by the Ectoparasite in the communities. Ticks infestation reached its peak in the month of November 2009. The study revealed that 30%, 29%, 21%, and 20% of goats, dogs, sheep and cattle were infested respectively. In cattle, low infestation was recorded. The Ectoparasite examination was mainly on members of order Anoplura, order Siphonaptera and sub-order Ixodiodea. Two species of Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus were recorded while only a species of Hyalomma Haemaphysalis, Ctenocephalisdes were observed. Also two species of Anoplura that are of Linognathus vituli and Heamatopinus suis were observed during the survey. In the survey, infestation of fleas was mostly high between the months of June to September 2009. Examination of free and penned ranging animals was also observed. The survey recorded 21% of tick’s infestation on sheep. The examination revealed that the predilection site of tick’s infestation could be sighted mostly on neck region while that of the fleas is found at the trunk region.