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

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