Identification of Ectoparasitic Insects Among Domestic Goats in Bulgaria

In a study conducted on 34 farms across 16 regions in Bulgaria, 4599 domestic goats from eight breeds were inspected for ectoparasitic insects, resulting in the collection of 5,651 insects. Six species from five genera were identified: Linognathus stenopsis, Linognathus africanus, Bovicola caprae, Pulex irritans, Hippobosca equina, and Lipoptena cervi. Linognathus stenopsis was the most prevalent, with female lice outnumbering males and adult forms (imagines) being more common than nymphs. In contrast, male fleas were more numerous than females. The study found that four species (L. stenopsis, L. africanus, B. caprae, and P. irritans) were present in over 40% of the farms and in 68.75% of the regions, with P. irritans being the only flea species detected and having the highest extensity of infestation at 32.3%.