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Blood protozoan parasites of rodents in Jos, Plateau State, Nigerai


O O Ajayi
B A Ogwurike
J A Ajayi

Abstract



One hundred and thirty rodents, comprising nine different species caught from seven different locations in Jos, Nigeria, were examined for blood protozoan parasites, and 82(63.08%) were positive, with Plasmodium 63(48.46%), Trypanosoma 4(3.08%), Toxoplasma 6(4.62%), Babesia 7(5.38%) and Anaplasma 2(1.54%). The distribution of the hemoparasites in the nine different species of rodents were 81.82% each in Steatomys pratensis (fat mouse) and Thryonomys swinderianus (cane rat), 80.77% in Thamnomys rutilans (thicket rat), 75.00% in Rattus rattus (black rat), 72.22% in Mus musculus (house mouse), 36.36% in Hystrix cristata (porcupine) and 50.00% in Cricetomys gambianus (Gambian giant rat). No blood parasite was encountered in Cavia aperea porcelus (guinea pig) and Xerus erythropus (ground squirrel). The differences between the prevalence rates were significant (p<0.05). Thirty-one (51.67%) of the 60 male rodents and 51(72.86%) of the 70 female rodents were found to be parasitized. The prevalence of the hemoparasites ranged from 0.00-83.33% and 0.00-100.00% in the male and female rodents respectively. However, the sex-related prevalence rates were not significantly different (p>0.05). The public health significance of the parasites encountered is discussed.

Keywords: Rodents, parasites, protozoa, blood, Nigeria

> Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 202-207

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