ABSTRACT

A survey of the endoparasites of Hemidactylus spp. from Benin City and environs was conducted. The Hemidactylus species encountered include; Hemidactylus brookii angulatus, Hemidactylus mabouia, Hemidacylus fasciatus, Hemidactylus altuberculatus and an unidentified Hemidactylus sp. Sixty-one specimens consisting of 34 males and 27 females were examined. Seventeen were caught from the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria at Iyanomo; 31 from Uhogua Community; 4 from Osasogie, 7 from Ugbowo and 2 from Uwasota in Benin City. The overall prevalence of parasites from these locations was 74.5%. The prevalence for Iyanomo was 88.2%, Osasogie 100%, Ugbowo 85.7%, Uhogua 48.4% and Uwasota 50%. The prevalence in Hemidactylus brookii angulatus was 78.9%, Hemidactylus mabouia 66.7%, Hemidactylus sp. 30%, Hemidactylus fasciatus 66.7% and Hemidactylus altuberculatus 100%. A total of ten species of parasites were recovered and they included Pentastomida: Raillitiella affinis; Cestoda: Oochoristica jonnesi and Oochorostica sp.; Trematoda: Mesocoelium monodi and Paradistomoides sp. and Nematoda: Thelandros scleratus, Parapharyngyndon sp., Pharyngydon sp., Physaloptera sp. and Spauligodon sp. Mesocoelium monodi had the highest mean intensity among the parasites recorded. Uhogua had the highest host diversity but Iyanomo had the highest parasite diversity.