Intestinal helminth parasites of greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) sold at Omagwa BushmeatMarket, Omagwa, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Greater cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) are important sources of bushmeat in southern Nigeria. Here, we collected and examined intestinal helminth parasites of these rats sold at Omagwa bushmeat market, Rivers State, Nigeria. Twelve intestinal tracts of T. swinderianus were purchased from December, 2020 to February, 2021, and transported to the laboratory for examination. Each sample was incised and its contents examined in 0.9% normal saline solution. Parasites encountered were washed in same solution, fixed in 70% ethanol and subsequently identified using taxonomical keys. Prevalence of infection was computed using standard formula for computing parasite ecological parameters. Four parasitic nematodes were isolated. Oesophagostomum venulosum and Strongylus sp. infected six hosts each accounting for a prevalence of 50.0%. Mean intensity of infection was about 12 parasites/infected host for O. venulosum and about 7 parasites/infected host for Strongylus sp. Trichuris paravispicularis had a prevalence of 33.3% and mean intensity of about two parasites/infected host, while Toxocara vitulorum was recovered as a single individual from one host at a prevalence of 8.3%. We conclude that T. swinderianus serves as host to intestinal nematode parasites, and recommend full parasitological investigation of the animal, where possible, to isolate and identify other helminth parasites not reported in the present research.