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.