ABSTRACT
Grasscutter
(Thryonomys swinderianus) is a wild hystricomorphic rodent otherwise known as
the cane rat. It is a wild herbivore related to the Africa brush- tailed
porcupine. The main habitat and food of this animal in West Africa is grass,
hence its common name “Grasscutter”, it is widely distributed in the African
sub-region and exploited in most areas as a source of animal protein. Apart
from it excellent taste, like most bushmeat. It is nutritionally superior to
most domestic animal meat because its food composition has been analyzed and
its protein value has been rated very high, Prevalence of gastrointestinal
parasites in domesticated grasscutter were studied, one hundred and eight (108)
faecal samples were collected from three known farms in Umuabhia, Abia State,
Nigeria. Samples were examined using formalin-ether sedimentation method. Sixty
four (59.26%) were infected with gastrointestinal parasites. The infection rate
with respect to age showed that young grasscutters, from 1-12 months had the
highest prevalence of 35.19%, followed by 13 -24 months 17.59% while 24 months
and above have the lowest prevalence of 6.48% and infection was greater in
females grasscutters with infection rate of 37.04% when compared to the male
grasscutters with 22.22%. However, this study also showed high infection in
farm C (Prince Vincent Ogbulafor farm), Farm B (Mr. Ibe farm) and the least was
in Farm A (National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike). Identified
parasites were hookworm (14.81%), Strongyloides (13.89%), Trichuris (12.04%),
Heterakis (6.48%), Strongyle (4.63%), Ascaris (3.70%), Hymenolepsis (2.78%),
Toxocara (0.93%). However, the result of the study showed that gastrointestinal
parasites were common with high infection rates among domesticated grasscutters
in Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria.
OZOEMENA, C (2023). Prevalence Of Gatrointestinal Parasites In Domesticated Grasscutter In Three Selected Farms In Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Sep 08, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gatrointestinal-parasites-in-domesticated-grasscutter-in-three-selected-farms-in-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2
CHIAMAKA, OZOEMENA. "Prevalence Of Gatrointestinal Parasites In Domesticated Grasscutter In Three Selected Farms In Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria." Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 14 Sep. 2023, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gatrointestinal-parasites-in-domesticated-grasscutter-in-three-selected-farms-in-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2. Accessed 08 Sep. 2024.
CHIAMAKA, OZOEMENA. "Prevalence Of Gatrointestinal Parasites In Domesticated Grasscutter In Three Selected Farms In Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 14 Sep. 2023. Web. 08 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gatrointestinal-parasites-in-domesticated-grasscutter-in-three-selected-farms-in-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2 >.
CHIAMAKA, OZOEMENA. "Prevalence Of Gatrointestinal Parasites In Domesticated Grasscutter In Three Selected Farms In Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria." Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2023). Accessed 08 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/prevalence-of-gatrointestinal-parasites-in-domesticated-grasscutter-in-three-selected-farms-in-umuahia-abia-state-nigeria-7-2