Rasha A Marcelino¹, Jaja Lewis Khamis¹, Ammar AH Ahmed², Hayfa Mohamed Ismail³ and Adil MA Salman¹*

¹University of Juba, School of Veterinary Medicine, South Sudan
²Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Oman
³University of Khartoum, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sudan

*Corresponding Author: Adil MA Salman, One Health Center, University of Bahri, Sudan.

Received: December 03, 2025; Published: December 30, 2025

Abstract

South Sudan possesses one of the largest livestock populations per capita globally, and small ruminants play an essential role in food security, rural livelihoods, and income generation. Despite their importance, skin diseases remain a major constraint to productivity, affecting hide and skin quality, meat and milk yield, and occasionally causing zoonotic transmission. This study investigated the seasonal prevalence of key skin diseases—ectoparasite infestation, mange, and wounds—among sheep and goats in Juba County, Central Equatoria State. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Luri and Rejaf Payams during the dry season, incorporating structured questionnaires, clinical examination, and parasitological analysis. A total of 49 sheep and 332 goats were examined. Tick identification was performed using dissecting microscopy, while mange mites were identified following KOH digestion and light microscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Findings demonstrated a significant association between season and ectoparasite infestation (p = 0.00), with animals being more than twice as likely to be infested during the wet season (RR = 2.417). Ectoparasites affected 51.3% of animals examined in the wet season compared to 37.1% in the dry season, reflecting favourable wet-season environmental conditions for parasite development and transmission. Wounds also showed a strong seasonal association (p = 0.00), with animals being 20 times more likely to develop wounds during the wet season (RR = 20.33), likely due to muddy terrain, increased vector activity, and delayed healing in humid conditions. In contrast, mange infestation exhibited no significant seasonal variation (p = 0.426), suggesting that factors such as hygiene, overcrowding, and host immunity are more influential than climate.

The study concludes that seasonality plays a major role in the occurrence of ectoparasites and wounds but not mange. Strengthened acaricide application before and during the wet season, improved housing management, and enhanced farmer training are recommended to reduce disease burden and improve small-ruminant health and productivity in the region.

Keywords: Goat;

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Citation

Citation: Adil MA Salman., et al. “Seasonal Variations in Major Skin Diseases of Small Ruminants in Juba County, South Sudan".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.1 (2026): 45-52.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Adil MA Salman., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.