Parasitic Infections of the African Giant Rat ( Cricetomys Gambianus) in the Semi-Arid Region of Northeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

A study of the internal and external parasites infections of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) was undertaken using standard parasitological methods. Of the 100 wild giant rats captured, 22(43.14%) males and 16(32.65%) females harboured gastrointestinal parasites. Similarly, 14(31.11%) juveniles and 24(43.64%) adults were also infected. The various species of gastrointestinal parasites recovered from the giant rats at post-mortem were Hymenolepis nana 19(50%), Ancylostoma caninum 4(10.53%), Strongyloides stercoralis 7(18.42%), Aspicularis tetraptera 5(13.16%) and Taenia cysts 3(7.89%). The post-mortem worm counts showed that Hymenolepis nana had the highest burden than the other helminths. At the same time, 12(23.53%) males, 10(20.41) females, 14(31.11%) juveniles and 8(14.55%) adults also harboured various degree of ectoparasitic infestations. No statistical variation was observed on the prevalence of ectoparasitic infestations according to sex (p>0.05) however, juveniles 14(31.11%) were significantly (P<0.05) more infested than the adults 8(14.55%). Similarly, adults 24(43.64%) were significantly (p<0.05) more infected with gastrointestinal parasites than juveniles 14(31.11%). The results also showed that 11(50%) had Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 5(22.73%) Xenopsylla cheopis, 3(13.64%) Ctenocephalides canis, 2(50%) Polyplax serrata and 1(4.55%) Ixodes rasus. In addition, 13(25.49%) males, 12(24.49%) females, 10(22.22%) juveniles and 15(27.27%) adults harboured various haemoparasites. Hepatozoan muris was found in 13(52%), Eperythrozoon coccoides in 4(18%) and Haemobartonella muris in 8(32%). It was therefore, concluded that the giant rats in the semi-arid region of Northeastern, Nigeria, harbour parasites of medical and veterinary importance