Helminth Parasites of Anurans from Zaria, Northern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Helminth parasitc infections were investigated in 150 Anurans collected in parts of the Northern Guinea Savannah during the
dry and wet seasons of 2016. The Anurans that were investigated included Amietophrynus regularis, Kassina senegalensis,
Afrixalus vittiger, Xenopus tropicalis, Xenopus fischbergi, Pyxiecephalus cf. edulis, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis, Amnirana
galamensis and Ptychadena pumilio. Overall prevalence of helminth parasites was 64% (94/150). Seven species of
helminths belonging to three taxonomic classes were recovered: Monogenea 4%, Trematoda 19.33% and Nematoda 40.67%
were identified. Eupolystoma alluaudi (30%) was the only monogenean recorded from the bladder of S. regularis. Tematodes
found were Diplodischus fishthalicus (53.49%) and Haematoloechus micrurus (67.45%) from the rectum and lungs of H.
occipitalis, respectively. Nematodes included Camallanus microcephalus from the oesophagus and small intestine of X.
fischbergi ( 62.96%) and X. tropicalis (100 %), respectively, Camallanus dimitrovi (25.58%) from the small intestine and
rectum of H. occipitalis, an unidentified nematode from the oesophagus and small intestine of X. fischbergi (1.85%) and X.
tropicalis (33.33%), and an Aplectana (85.00%%) species from the small intestine and rectum of S. regularis. Except for
Eupolystoma alluaudi, the infestation level was generally low. Parasite prevalence was higher during the wet (39.33%) than
dry (24.67%) season and the difference was not significant (p = 0.17). The prevalence and infection intensity were lower than
those reported from anurans in southern biotopes of Nigeria. The occurrence of Camallanus macrocephalus is a new record
for Nigeria, while X. fischbergi and X. tropicalis are new host records for C. macrocephalus.

Keywords: Anurans, helminth, prevalence, Northern Guinea Savannah, Nigeria