Abstract
BackgroundWildlife reservoirs not only act as a source of infection for vectors but also serve as hosts for the vectors themselves, supporting their populations. Their public health significance in developing countries is of growing importance as a result of zoonotic and enzootic diseases associated with the pathogens they transmit. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of wild game in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria. Physical examinations were carried out on 143 wildlife, and laboratory identification was employed on the ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites were identified in the laboratory using literature and with the help of a taxonomist.ResultsOut of the 143 game examined, 114 was infected with at least one parasite representing about 98.6% of an infestation. Among the parasites identified, Amblyomma spp. showed the highest prevalence of 24.5% at 95% confidential intervals of CI (1.45–3.19)–24.5% (p ≤ 0.05). No difference was observed in the prevalence of the ectoparasites according to sex, except for Ixodes holocyclus. Similarly, no difference was observed in prevalence with reference to age except for Rhipicephalus spp. and Polyplax spinulosa which showed differences.ConclusionsThe present study provides basic data about the most prevalent ectoparasitic arthropod among game in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria, which requires an evaluation of its zoonotic control measures. This work can elicit the risk of possible transmission of some zoonotic and enzootic diseases via game. Improving awareness among local people and bushmeat dealers about the risk of contracting a vector-borne disease through wildlife is crucial.
Highlights
Wildlife reservoirs act as a source of infection for vectors and serve as hosts for the vectors themselves, supporting their populations
A total of 3 lice, 5 ticks, 2 fleas and 1 mite belonging to eleven genera were collected (Fig. 2) from 114 samples belonging to the nine examined wildlife species
Were collected from three host species (N. meleagris V. ornatus, V. exanthimaticus), while Ixodes holocyclus, Dermacentor variabilis and Rhipicephalus spp. were each collected from two host species (F. bicalcaratus, T. swinderianus), (X. erythropus, T. swinderianus) and (O. cuniculus, P. maxwellii), respectively, whereas Boophilus decoloratus were collected from one host species (S. grimmia)) (Table 2)
Summary
Wildlife reservoirs act as a source of infection for vectors and serve as hosts for the vectors themselves, supporting their populations Their public health significance in developing countries is of growing importance as a result of zoonotic and enzootic diseases associated with the pathogens they transmit. Exposure to zoonotic diseases carried by wildlife and their parasites represents a growing threat to public health (AWI 2014) Ectoparasites such as ticks, lice, fleas and mites have been incriminated in the mechanical transmission of pathogens to humans while sucking blood (Omudua and Amuta 2007). Some known common human diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors are epidemic typhus and epidemic relapsing fever (body lice) plague and murine typhus (certain fleas) lyme disease, scrub typhus (biting mites), relapsing fever and many viral diseases (ticks) They parasitize their hosts, damaging their skin and causing irritation to them. Research on the distribution of wildlife ectoparasite should be carried out to discover what species occur in a particular area, where they are found, and with what hosts they are associated
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