INTESTINAL PARASITIC FAUNA AND PREVALENCE IN AFRICAN GIANT RAT (Cricetomys gambianus) IN NSUKKA METROPOLIS SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA
Abstract
to combat food insecurity and malnutrition among the local populace. However, the giant rat has been reported to harbour many parasites thus, its close association with man in raising them as mini-livestock and the consumption of the meat could be a public health risk to individuals handling them. This study was conducted to investigate the gut parasites and their prevalence on African giant rat in Nsukka metropolis. A total of 21 giant rats comprising 13 males and 8 females were trapped for the study. The giant rats were dissected, and the guts were removed and searched for parasites. A total of 506 parasites where recovered. Four different parasites Trichostrongylus sp., Trichuris muris (nematodes) and Hymenolepis diminuta and Taenia sp. (Platyhelminthes) were identified in the gastrointestinal tract of the giant rats. Hymenolepis diminuta was the most prevalent (100%) while Taenia sp. had the highest mean intensity of 10.15 (7.46 – 12.85, 95% CI) followed by Trichostrongylus sp. Taenia sp. is significantly higher in the caecum of males than the females (p< 0.05). The weight of African giant rat has positive correlation with the prevalence and intensity of the parasites. Given the parasitic load of African giant rats it is recommended that the giant rat should be reared to reduce the intensity of parasitic infection and increase the market value since the farmed ones will be regularly dewormed.
References
Abdullahi, A. M. and Mamman, S. G. (2021). Prevalence of endo and ecto parasitic infection of African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) in North Eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Review, 8(7): 25-29.
Ajayi, S. (1975). Observation on the biology, domestication and reproductive performance of the African Giant rat Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse in Nigeria. Mammalia, 39 (3): 343-364.
Ajayi, S., Tewe, O. and Faturoti, E. (1978). Behavioral changes in African giant rat under domestication. East Africa Wildlife Journal, 16(2): 137–143.
Al-Bashan, M. M. and Sabra, S. M. (2012). Prevalence of some enteric parasites in rats at taif governorate with special reference to associated pathogenic bacteria. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 6(4): 3431 – 3439.
Amador, A. (2003). ISAS (On-line). Accessed 16 January 2021 from www.il-st-acad-sci.org/mammals/mami1002.html.
Antonovics, J., Boots, M., Ebert, D., Koskella, B., Poss, M. and Sadd, B. M. (2012). The origin of specificity by means of natural selection: Evolved and nonhost resistance in host-parasite interactions. Evolution, 67(1): 1–9.
Audu, R. A., Mohammed, A., Ibrahim, N. D. G. and Moreh, E. B. (2008): Histopathological studies on Trypanosoma brucei infected African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse). International Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 2(3): 84-89.
Bicalho, K. A., Araújo, F. T. M., Rocha, R. S. and Carvalho, O. S. (2007). Sanitary profile in mice and rat colonies in laboratory animal houses in Minas Gerais: Endo and ectoparasites. ArquivoBrasileiro de MedicinaVeterinaria e Zootecnia, 59(6): 1478–1484.
Cooper, R. G. (2008). Care husbandary and disease of the African giant rat (Circetomysgambianus). Journal of South Africa Veterinary Association, 79(2): 62–66.
Cosmas, M., Ribas, A., Milazzo, C., Sperone, E. and Tripepi, S. (2014). High level of prevalence related to age and body condition: Host-parasite interaction in a water frog Pelophylax kl. Hispaniscus. Acta Herpetologica, 9(1): 25–31.
Dipeolu, O. and Ajayi, S. (1976). Parasites of the African giant rats (Cricetomysgambianus) in Ibadan, Nigeria. East Africa Wildlife Journal, 14(1): 85–89.
Ejere, V. C., Aguzie, I. O., Ivoke, N., Ekeh, F. N., Ezenwaji, N. E., Onoja, U. S. and Eyo, J. E. (2014). Parasitofauna of five freshwater fishes in a Nigerian freshwater ecosystem. Croatian Journal of Fisheries, 72: 1–16.
Ekeh, F. N. and Ekechukwu, N. E. (2009). Ecto and gut parasites of the African giant rat Cricetomys gambianus in a semi-urban tropical community. Animal Research International, 6(3): 1082–1085.
Ezeh, C. C. and Ugwu, G. Z. (2010). Geoelectrical sounding for estimating groundwater potential in Nsukka L.G.A. Enugu State, Nigeria. International Journal of the Physical Sciences, 5(5): 415–420.
FAO (1997). Wildlife utilization and food security in Africa. Accessed June 10, 2021 from www.fao.org/3/aw7540e/w7540e00.htm#Contents
Hornok, S., Foldvari, G., Rigo, K., Meli, M. L., Gonczi, E., Repasi, A., Farkas, R., Pappi, I., Kontschain, J. and Hofmann-Lehmann, R. (2015). Synanthropic rodents and their ectoparacites as carriers of novel haemoplasma and vector-borne, zoonotic pathogens indoor. Parasites and Vectors, 8:27.
Joo, M. and Myers, P. (2004): “Cricetomys gambianus†(Online), Animal Diversity Web accessed, June 27, 2021 at http://animal.diversityummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cricetomysgambianus.htm.
Mbaya, A. W., Kumshe, H. A., Luka, J. And Madara, A. M. (2011). Parasitic infections of the African giant rat Cricetomys gambianus in the semi-arid region of northeastern Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 32(1): 21-25.
Mogbo, T. C., Okeke, J. J., Ebenebe, C. I., Anizoba, M. A. and Ufele, A. N. (2011). Assessment of feeding and digestibility in the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) under captive conditions. African Journal of Bioscience, 4(1): 73–77.
Monanu PC. 1975. Temperature and sunshine. In: Ofomata GEK (Ed.). Nigeria in Maps: Eastern States. Ethiope Publishing House, Benin City, pp. 16–18.
NRC (1991). Quail: Micolivestock-Little know small animals with a promising economic future. National Academy Press, Washington DC. Pp. 147–155.
Okoye, I. C. and Obiezue, R. N. N. (2008). Survey of the gut parasite of rodents in Nssuka Ecological zone. Animal Research International, 5(2): 846–847.
Paperna, I. (1996). Parasites, Infection and Diseases of Fishes in Africa-an Update. Central Institute for Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) Technical Paper. No. 31 Rome, FAO. Publishing, Iowa, State University: 8 - 25.
Rohlenova, K., Moran, S., Hyrsl, P., Tolarova, S., Flayshans, M. and Sinkova, A. (2011). Are fish immunes really really affected by parasites? An immunological study of common carp (Cyprinuscarpio). Parasite and Vectors, 4: 120.
Ryan, J. (1989). Evolution of check pouches in African giant rats (Cricetimy sgambianus). Journal of Mammalogy 2: 287–274.
Soulsby, E. J. L. (1982). Helminthes, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, Seventh Edition. Bailliere Tindal, London.
Webber, Q. M. R., McGuire, L. P., Smith, S. B. and Willis, C. K. R. (2015). Host behaviour, age and sex correlate with ectoparasite prevalence and intensity in colonial mammal, the little brown bat. Behaviour, 152: 83–105.
William, J. F. (2001): Veterinary Parasitology, Reference Manual, 5 Edition. Blackwell,
Copyright (c) 2022 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
