Survey of Ectoparasites in Sheep in the City of Jardim do Seridó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil has a large potential market for products derived from the skin of small domestic ruminants. However in the ovine infestation cause economic losses, either due to high mortality due to infestation, or indirectly, caused by irritation in animals, causing them to fall in productivity and susceptibility to secondary infections. Among the infestation, pediculosis caused by lice is the most frequent, although it has been technological advances in their control, have increased the risk of compromising the quality of leather, marked by intense scaling of the skin and the possibility of mixed parasitism. Considering the importance of knowledge of the ectoparasites of sheep, this study aims to identify the parasites that affect sheep in the city of Jardim do Seridó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 1000 sheep were examined by visual inspection and random manual palpation in 10% of these animals, regardless of sex, collecting the ectoparasites found in the body. The specimens were placed in individual bottles, per host sampled, containing alcohol 70 ° GL conservative as liquid for further identification. In the laboratory of Animal Parasitology of the Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid (UFERSA) was performed to identify with a stereomicroscope, using a dichotomous key, according to the literature. Of the 1000 sheep examined, 600 (60.0%) had Damaliniaovis infestation, 200 (33.3%) young animals and 400 (66.7%) adult animals. The results indicated that the animals are important hosts for ectoparasites, confirming the widespread presence of D. ovis corroborating jobs nationwide.