HELMINTH PARASITES OF AGAMA LIZARDS FROM UHOGUA COMMUNITY, BENIN-CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

A three month parasitological study was conducted from January - March, 2024 to investigate the helminth parasites of Agama agama from Uhogua Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The lizards were killed by exposure to chloroform, dissected and examined for parasites. A total of 22 lizards were sampled of which 20 were infected giving an overall prevalence 90% and a mean intensity of 16.5 parasites/ infected host. The parasites encountered included: three nematodes and three cestodes. The nematodes included: Strongyluris brevicaudata, Thelandros scleratus and Parapharyngodon awokoyai, which were recovered from the large intestine/rectum. The cestodes included: three Oochoristica spp. (Oochoristica spp I to. III). The most prevalent parasite was Strongyluris brevicaudata (50%) followed by Thelandros scleratus (45%). All the parasites recorded, infected both males and female lizards. However, males had a higher prevalence value (100%) than females (88%). The difference in prevalence value was statistically significant (p<0.01). More samples need to be examined from Uhogua in order to have more materials for proper identification of the Oochoristica species as well as to study other parasites that may be present in the study area but were not encountered in this study due to the short duration of this study