Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of Walter’s duiker (<i>Philantomba walteri</i>) in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Walter’s duikers were screened for gastrointestinal parasites from three different bushmeat markets in Ondo State. A total of forty gastrointestinal (GIT) samples of the duiker were collected and examined in relation to their age, location and gender. Eggs of different gastrointestinal parasites species were recovered from the intestinal tract content of the animals using the flotation and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation methods and the parasites eggs were identified based on their morphology. Total prevalence of 67.5% (95%CI: 52.0-79.9) was observed in the study. Seven genera of helminth parasites including two trematodes (Fasciola spp., Paraphystomum spp.), and five nematodes (Strongyloides spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Toxocara spp., Haemonchus spp., Protostrongylus larva) and one protozoan oocytes (Eimeria spp.) were identified. Among the parasite observed Fasciola spp. had the highest prevalence while Trichostrongylus spp. had the least prevalence. Based on the location of sample collection, New town had the highest parasitic rate (76.9%) while prevalence in regard to age identified growing duikers with the highest prevalence (72.7%). Males were observed to be more infected (70.4%, 95%CI: 49.8-86.3) compared to females (61.5%, 95%CI: 31.6-86.1). Gastrointestinal parasites which are of zoonotic importance were identified from the samples of gastrointestinal tracts collected from bushmeat markets. The presence and prevalence of these parasites has public health implication because the parasites could be transmitted to humans by consuming raw or under cook meat.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal parasites, Walter’s duiker, Bushmeat, Zoonosis

Afr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (January, 2019); 73- 78