A CASE OF MULTIPLE MIXED INVASION WITH ECTOPARASITES IN GOATS

Abstract

The current study involves 15 goats from a local breed, naturally infested with ectoparasitic insects. The goats come from a farm in the village of Yazdach, Stara Zagora County, property of a private owner. Our visit to the farm occurred after a signal given by the owner who informed us that the goats were scratching themselves and had exhibited strong discomfort. 15 animals were examined and 14 of them were found to be infested with one or more species of insects. 6 of them (40 %) were infested with sucking lice from the species Linognathus stenopsis Burmeister (1838), family Linognathidae, suborder Anoplura of order Phthiraptera; 7 (46.6 %) – with biting lice from species Bovicola caprae Gurlt (1843), family Bovicolidae, suborder Ischnocera of order Phthiraptera; 9 (60%) – with fleas from the species Pulex irritans, Linnaeus (1758) belonging to the Pulicidae family, order Siphonaptera and 2 (13,3 %) – with hippoboscids from the species Hippobosca equina Linnaeus (1758) from Hippoboscidae family of order Diptera. In 5 of the examined animals was found a monoinfestation and a mixed one in the rest of goats: in 6 of them with two species and in 3 of them with 3 species of insects. The average Intensity of Infestation (II) with Linognathus stenopsis was 750, with Bovicola caprae – 328. With Pulex irritans II was 11,3 and with Hippobosca equina – 1. A part of the ectoparasites (178) were collected and conserved in 70 ethanol with the purpose of laboratory identification, morphological examination and preparing the photographic material.