Prevalence of ectoparasites on goats in Dehradun (India)

The prevalence of two phthirapteran species, Bovicola caprae and Linognathus africanus, on 1048 goats from Dehradun (India) was 79.2% and 38% respectively. Prevalence of both species was higher on visibly weaker and less hairy goats. Sex related differences in prevalence were not found. The prevalence of L. africanus was slightly higher on young goats but the same was not true in case of B. caprae. The incidence of B. caprae showed moderately negative correlation with environmental temperature and photoperiod. The relative intensity of B. caprae has been found higher during winter months, followed by summers. Study primarily deals with lice but the information about prevalence of other ectoparasites like ticks, fleas and keds, has also been supplemented.