Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ectoparasite Infestation of Buffaloes from Coastal Regions of Bangladesh

Ectoparasitic infestation can bring a threat to cost-effective buffalo production by causing mechanical damage, including, irritation, anaemia, allergic reaction, loss of condition, and even death. The current study was aimed to determine the ectoparasite status of buffaloes in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. For this study, 270 buffaloes from three selected districts (Noakhali, Bhola and Bagerhat) were randomly selected and examined visually. Buffaloes from different sexes and age ranges were selected based on their availability, and several risk factors, such as season and management systems, were also considered for the current study. Four (4) species of ectoparasites, namely, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Rhipicephalus microplus, Linognathus vituli, and Damalinia bovis, where 47, comprising at 17.41% of overall prevalence was documented among the study areas. In contrast to the species-wise prevalence, H. bispinosa, R. microplus, L. vituli, and D. bovis were detected in 26, 11, 3, and 7 buffaloes, comprising a prevalence of 9.63%, 4.07%, 1.11%, and 2.59%, respectively. Moreover, the highest prevalence (18.52%) was seen in the adult compared to young buffaloes (12.96%), and females (18.92%) were more likely to be infected than males (15.57%). In addition to this, seasonal variations in the presence of ectoparasites were observed, with Winter having the highest infection levels (28.89%), followed by Summer (16.67%), and Rainy (6.67%). The ectoparasites, encountered in this study, pose significant threats to public health due to their vector importance, therefore, necessitating regular monitoring and effective control measures should be implemented in this study area.