Epidemiology and Risk Factors Associated with Zoonotic Ectoparasite Infestation Among Human and Small Ruminants in Sanandaj, West Iran

Background: Ectoparasites in domestic animals (sheep and goats) play important roles in transmitting the widest range of pathogens and can induce considerable economic losses in the animal husbandry industry. This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and species’ variation of ectoparasites in the sheep and goats and its risk factors in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, western Iran. Methods: The ectoparasites of 4576 animals; that is, 1954 sheep (416+1538) and 2622 goats (1084+1538) were collected in the abattoir and different rural regions (N=32) of Sanandaj. Determination of ectoparasites was done using a stereomicroscope according to the identification keys. Results: Results indicated that 925 sheep (47.33%) and 811 goats (30.93%) were infested with ectoparasites. There was a significant difference between the prevalence and sex in sheep aged less than one-year old (P≤0.05). Moreover, the highest and lowest prevalence of ixodid tick infestations was observed for Boophilus spp. (35.36%) and Rhipicephalus spp. (3.06%), respectively. In addition, the highest body infestation to be detected was on the ears (24.82%) of Rhipicephalus (P≤0.05) with 2.13 ticks in each animal. The frequency of tick infestation was remarkably higher in spring (33.82%) than in other seasons. Furthermore, 143/416 (34.37%) and 109/416 (26.2%) sheep as well as 113/1084 (10.42%) and 87/1084(0.86%) goats were infested with Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans, respectively. Myiasis resulting from Przhevalskiana fly larvae was merely observed in the goat population at the abattoir. Haematopinus spp, Linognathus spp., and Damalinia were detected, and the prevalence of lice infestation was significantly higher in the goats 831/1538 (54.03%) rather than in the sheep 20/1538 (1.3%). Conclusion: This is the first report on ectoparasites fauna in the sheep and goats in Sanandaj, western Iran. Furthermore, it was confirmed that various ticks can not only transmit pathogens to humans but also induce tick-borne disease in animals in the region.