ECTO-PARASITES AND HELMINTH PARASITES OF WILD GRASSCUTTERS (Thryonomys swinderianus) IN UGONOBA VILLAGE AND EKIUWA MARKET, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of ecto-parasites and gastro-intestinal tract helminth parasites of wild grasscutters in Ugonoba village and Ekiuwa market, Edo State was undertaken between November, 2016 and May, 2017. The 10 wild grasscutters comprising 5 (50%) males and 5 (50%) females examined for gastro-intestinal tract helminth parasites were all (100%) infected and polyparasitism was observed to be common. Of the 3 grasscutters examined for ecto-parasites, 2 (66.7%) were infected. A total of 9 species of parasites were recovered comprising 4 species of Arthropods, 4 species of Nematodes and 1 species of Cestode. The ecto-parasites recovered include: 2 ticks (Rhipicephalus sp. and Ixodes sp.), 1 louse (Polyplax sp.) and one unidentified mite. The Nematodes included: Trachypharynx nigeriae, Heligmonella spira, Trichuris parvispicularis and one unidentified nematode. The Cestode recovered was Raillietina sp. Of the ecto-parasites recovered, Rhipicephalus sp. had the highest prevalence (66.7%) and was recovered from wild grasscutters in both locations and both seasons while Ixodes sp. was only recovered from the wild grasscutter sampled at Ekiuwa market and in the rainy season. Polyplax sp. and the unidentified mite were recovered from the wild grasscutter sampled at Ugonoba village and in the dry season.100% prevalence was recorded for the nematodes; Trachypharynx nigeriae, Heligmonella spira and Trichuris parvispicularis with the unidentified nematode having the least prevalence (60%). It is believed that this study will invigorate and encourage further research into other agents of the grasscutter disease, in order to minimize their mortality and so, help to increase grasscutter meat production in the country.