Authors

C Amuzie¹; B Robert¹; GC Akani¹;  ¹ Rivers State University, Nigeria

Discussion

Grass-cutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) are important sources of bush-meat in southern Nigeria. Here, we examined intestinal helminth parasites of grass-cutters sold at Omagwa bushmeat market, Rivers State, Nigeria. Intestines of twelve specimens were bought from the bush-meat sellers from December, 2020 – February, 2021. They were fixed in 10% formalin to curtail decay and transported to the Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Each sample was incised and its contents examined in sections in 0.9% normal saline solution. Parasites encountered were washed in 0.9% normal saline solution, fixed in 70% ethanol and subsequently identified using taxonomical keys. Prevalence of infection was computed using standard formula. Nematode parasites were isolated from ten infected hosts: Oesophagostomum venulosum from the large intestine, Strongylus sp., Toxocara vitulorum and Trichuris paravispicularis from the small intestine. Each of O. venulosum and Strongylus sp. infected six hosts accounting for a prevalence of 50.0%. Mean intensity of infection was 12 parasites per infected host for O. venulosum and 7 parasites per infected hosts for Strongylus sp. Trichuris paravispicularis infected four hosts accounting for a prevalence of 33.3% and mean intensity of two parasites per infected host, while Toxocara vitulorum was recovered as a single individual from only one host at a prevalence of 8.3%. It is concluded that T. swinderianus is actively involved in the life cycle of nematode parasites and its conservation by domestication or in the wild would require deworming regimens using appropriate anthelminthic drugs and hygienic practices to ensure their health.