scholarly journals Occurrence and Prevalence of Macroparasites of African Giant Rats (Cricetomys Gambianus) in a Savanna Region of Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
E. C. Amaechi ◽  
P. A. Ade-Akanbi ◽  
I. T. Olagunju ◽  
C. A. Okorie ◽  
B. U. Ejike

Abstract Rodents play an important role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases since they serve as reservoirs of these infections. A survey of ecto and intestinal parasites of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) was carried out between January and May, 2018 in Il-orin to access their potential as reservoirs of zoonoses. A total of 60 African giant rats were caught live using single catch rat traps which were set around bushes, near human habitation. The giant rats were euthanized with chloroform and thoroughly examined for ectoparasites. The giant rats were dissected and the alimentary canal removed. Direct smear floatation and sedimentation methods were used to detect endoparasites in the animals. The prevalence of different types of endoparasites were: Hymenolepis nana (33.3 %), Hymenolepis diminuta (25.0 %), Aspicularis tetraptera (29.2 %), and Acanthocephala spp. (12.5 %), while the ectoparasites were: Ixodes rasus (37.9 %), Xenopsylla cheopis (44.8 %) and Ornithonyssus bacoti (17.2 %). African giant rats harbour quite a number of infections that can be spread to humans especially in developing countries where most communities are economically disadvantaged, thus the need to properly enlighten the populace.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
Adamu Muhammad Abdullahi ◽  
Sadiq Gambo Mamman

Rodents are one of the most important groups of mammalian animal with more than 42%of the known mammalian species, with 1700 species which belongs to three different families include Muridae, microtidaie and sigmodontidae. The aim of this study is to examine endo and ecto parasitic infection of African Giant rat (Cricetomys Gambianus). Intestinal parasite were detected and identified from the stool samples using formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique. A total of 18 African giant rats were captured, all of the captured rats were found infected with at least one or more endoparasites (100%). Whereas there’s no any ectoparasites identified from the rat. 16(89%) of the rats captured were found positive for haemoparasite. Therefore, the results of this study have shown that the rats are infected with parasite species that may play an important role in transmission of certain zoonotic diseases to humans. Keywords: African Giant rat, Cricetomys Gambianus, endo and ecto parasitic infection, Rodents, zoonotic disease.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maysa Ahmad Eraky ◽  
Samia Mostafa Rashed ◽  
Mona El-Sayed Nasr ◽  
Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary ◽  
Amera Salah El-Ghannam

This study evaluated the degree of parasitic contamination of vegetables which are commercialized and consumed fresh in Benha, Egypt. It included 530 vegetables: lettuce, watercress, parsley, green onion, and leek. Vegetables were collected randomly from markets within Benha. Samples were washed in saline, and the resulting washing solution was filtered and centrifuged to concentrate the parasitic stages. Sediments and supernatants were examined by iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Intestinal parasites were detected in 157/530 (29.6%) samples.Giardia lambliacysts were the most prevalent parasite (8.8%) followed byEntamoebaspp. cysts (6.8%),Enterobius vermiculariseggs (4.9%), various helminth larvae (3.6%),Hymenolepis nanaeggs (2.8%),Hymenolepis diminutaeggs (2.1%), andAscaris lumbricoideseggs (0.6%). The highest contaminated vegetable was lettuce (45.5%) followed by watercress (41.3%), parsley (34.3%), green onion (16.5%), and leek (10.7%). These results indicate a significant seasonal variation (P<0.05), with highest prevalence in summer (49%) and the lowest in winter (10.8%). These findings provide evidence for the high risk of acquiring parasitic infection from the consumption of raw vegetables in Benha, Egypt. Effective measures are necessary to reduce parasitic contamination of vegetables.


2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 581-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleuza Rodrigues Machado ◽  
Dircelina Silva Santos ◽  
Julia Maria Costa-Cruz

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites and commensals among children in four peripheral districts located in the northern, southern, eastern and western sectors of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, using the Baermann methods as modified by Moraes and Lutz. Out of 160 individuals studied, 93 (58.1% CI: 50.4-65.7) were infected, distributed among the sectors as follows: northern (72.5%), southern (47.5%), eastern (57.5%) and western (55%). The positive findings according to age groups were: 0-5 years (26.9%), 5-10 years (21.2%) and 10-15 years (10%). Male children presented 2.7 times higher risk of infection than females did (OR: 2.7; CI: 1052-7001). The parasites and commensals identified were: Giardia lamblia (27.5%), Entamoeba coli (20.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (14.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (8.8%), Hymenolepis nana (7.5%), Hymenolepis diminuta (5%), hookworms (3.1%), Trichuris trichiura (2.5%), Endolimax nana (2.5%), Entamoeba hartmanni (2.5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.3%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1.3%) and Capillaria hepatica (0.6%). The infection rate in these children was high and showed the need to implement prophylactic education programs in the community.


2022 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Shaymaa A Majeed ◽  
Amer M Al-Amery

The prevalence of house mice (Mus musculus) Hymenolepiasis was determined in Baghdad, Iraq to study the effects of location, sex, and months on the infection rate of Hymenolepis spp. in house mice. Fifty house mice were captured from Abu Ghraib and Al-Ameriya, Baghdad, Iraq and examined for detecting parasites in laboratory in College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Baghdad. The total infection prevalence of intestinal parasites was 11 (22%) out of 50 samples, the higher prevalence was 28.57% and found in Abu Ghraib area, while lower was (13.63%) and recorded in Al-Ameriya area. The study revealed that the house mice were infected with two species of Hymenolepis: Hymenolepis nana 4 (8%) and Hymenolepis diminuta 7(14%). The intestinal parasites revealed a significance prevalence value (P<0.05). There was statistical difference in between males and females in parasites infection, in which the higher rate was 8 (27.58%) and recorded in males and the lower was 3 (14.28%) and observed in females. The monthly distribution of confirmed cases over a 9-month period revealed that reported cases of house mice and Hymenolepiasis increased significantly (P<0.01) in autumn (65.44%), followed by winter (15.38%), and summer (13.33%). The findings showed that house mice play an important role in the spread of zoonotic parasitic illnesses to people, as well as attention must pay to public health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1464-1468
Author(s):  
Imdad Ali Ansari ◽  
Jawed Akhtar Samo ◽  
Mohammad Aslam Soomro

Background: Worldwide, intestinal parasitic infections are major causeof human mortality and morbidity especially among developing countries wherein publichealth standards are not much better like developed countries. Intestinal parasiticinfections are linked with poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, inadequate dietaryand cultural habits and climate conditions. Objective: To assess the frequency, riskfactors and clinical manifestations related to intestinal parasite infections in patients withgastrointestinal disorders. Study Design: Cross-sectional multi-centre study. Setting:Department of Medicines, Chandka Medical College Larkana and Civil Hospital, KhairpurMirs. Period: 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017. Method: 260 patients, the patientswith gastrointestinal disorders presenting one or more symptoms (e.g. diarrhea, dysentery,abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cramping and constipation) were included.Results: Frequency of intestinal parasites was 32.3%. The most common parasites wereEntamoeba histolytica (10.4%), Giardia lamblia (8.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (6.9%). Age,education, monthly income and contact with animal were significantly associated withintestinal parasite infections. Concerning symptoms, the presence of intestinal parasitesinfection was significantly associated with diarrhea and dysentery. Conclusion: Studyconcluded that most prevalent parasites were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lambliaand Hymenolepis nana. Significant association was found in age, education and monthlyincome.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 483-494
Author(s):  
Andriamalala Rakotondrafara ◽  
◽  
Roland Rakotondrajaona ◽  
Marrino Rakotoarisoa ◽  
Michel Ratsimbason ◽  
...  

During an ethnobotanical survey conducted among the Zafimaniry clan in the Amoron'i Mania region of Madagascar, 164 medicinal plants species from 138 genera and 73 families are recorded to be used by local people to treat 65 different types of human diseases. The most prescribed species belong to Asteraceae (30 species), Fabaceae (8 species), Rubiaceae (7 species) Poaceae (6 species) and Solanaceae (7 species) botanical families. Helichrysum was the most cited genus with 6 species. The main pathologies treated with medicinal plants are abdominal colic (10.5%) using 25 species, cough (7.2%, 23 species), intestinal parasites (6.3%, 20 species) and diarrhea (5.8%, 25 species). The vernacular names and the recipes of used plants are also reported. Data are collected by interviewing 191 informants aged between 16 and 100 using standardized questionnaires. The present study shows that the Zafimaniry people use a large number of medicinal plants for their primary health care. Some of the recorded plants are new in the Malagasy ethnopharmacopoeia


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-305
Author(s):  
H. M. Al-Mekhlafi

SummaryHymenolepis nana is the most common cestode reported in humans worldwide. It is prevalent among children in the tropics and subtropics, particularly in rural poor communities where sanitation is inadequate or lacking. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence and significant risk factors of H. nana infection among children in rural Yemen. Faecal samples were collected from 498 children and screened for intestinal parasites by using wet mount, formalin-ether concentration and Kato–Katz techniques. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect demographic, socioeconomic, housing condition, and personal hygiene information. Overall, 77.5 % (386/498) of the children were found to be infected by at least one intestinal parasite species. The overall prevalence of H. nana was 17.5 % (87/498). Multivariate analysis confirmed that an age of < 6 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.28; 95 % (confidence interval [CI] = 2.04, 8.98), presence of other family members infected with H. nana (AOR = 2.48; 95 % CI = 1.45, 4.24), living in the highlands (AOR = 2.87; 95 % CI = 1.56, 5.26), living in a house without improved toilet facilities (AOR = 2.19; 95 % CI = 1.23, 3.88), not washing vegetables before consumption (AOR = 2.11; 95 % CI = 1.06, 4.19), and not washing hands after defecation (AOR = 1.88; 95 % CI = 1.08, 3.27) were the key factors significantly associated with H. nana infection among the studied children. In conclusion, H. nana is prevalent among children in rural Yemen, particularly among preschool-aged children. Thus, an integrated and effective programme to control intestinal parasitic infections should include preschool-aged children. Such a programme should focus on providing health education on hygienic practices, providing adequate sanitation and improved sources of drinking water, and screening and treating other infected family members.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-262
Author(s):  
S. K. Brar ◽  
N. Singla ◽  
L. D. Singla

Summary This first comprehensive report from Punjab province of India relates to patho-physiological alterations alongwith morpho-molecular characterisation and risk assessment of natural infections of Hymenolepis diminuta and Hymenolepis nana in 291commensal rodents including house rat, Rattus rattus (n=201) and lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bangalensis (n=90). Small intestine of 53.61 and 64.95 % rats was found infected with H. diminuta and H. nana, respectively with a concurrent infection rate of 50.86 %. There was no association between male and female rats and H. diminuta and H. nana infections (ᵡ2 = 0.016 and 0.08, respectively, d.f.= 1, P>0.05), while the host age had significant effect on prevalence of H. diminuta and H. nana (ᵡ2 = 28.12 and 7.18, respectively, d.f.= 1, P≤0.05) infection. Examination of faecal samples and intestinal contents revealed globular shaped eggs of H. diminuta without polar filaments (76.50 ± 3.01μm x 67.62 ± 2.42 μm), while smaller sized oval eggs of H. nana were with 4 – 8 polar filaments (47.87 ± 1.95 μm x 36.12 ± 3.05 μm). Cestode infection caused enteritis, sloughing of intestinal mucosa, necrosis of villi and inflammatory reaction with infiltration of mononuclear cells in the mucosa and submucosa. Morphometric identification of the adult cestodes recovered from the intestinal lumen was confirmed by molecular characterisation based on nuclear ITS-2 loci which showed a single band of 269 bp and 242 bp for H. diminuta and H. nana, respectively. Pairwise alignment of the ITS-2 regions showed 99.46 % similarity with sequences of H. diminuta from USA and 100 % similarity with sequences of H. nana from Slovakia, Kosice.


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