HELMINTH ENDOPARASITES OF
THE RAINBOW LIZARD, Agama agama L.
(SQUAMATA: AGAMIDAE) IN NSUGBE, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1:
Prevalence of helminth endoparasites in Agama agama
in
Nsugbe------------------------------------------------------------------------26
Table 2:
Prevalence of helminth endoparasite in adult and juvenile
Agama agama in
Nsugbe------------------------------------------------26
Table 3: Prevalence
of different species of helminth endoparasites in
Agama agama in Nsugbe
----------------------------------------------27
Table 4:
Prevalence of different species of helminth parasites in Agama
Agama in Nsugbe
by sex of host---------------------------------------29
Table 5:
Prevalence of differqent species of helminth endoparasites in
Agama agama in Nsugbe by
Age-------------------------------------32
Table 6: Concomitant
infections involving different species of helminth
Endoparasite in Agama
agama in Nsugbe--------------------------35
Table 7: Microhabitat
of helminth endoparasites of Agama agama
...37
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig
1: Map showing the study area
..18 Fig 2a: Posterior surface
(ventral view) of S. brevicaudata
(showing caudal
papillae)
.41
Fig 2b: Posterior end (lateral view) of S.
brevicaudata internal organs identified
..41
Fig 3a: Anterior and (lateral view) of P.
awokoyai showing internal organs
42
Fig 3b: Posterior end (later view) of P.
awokoyai showing internal organs
42
Fig
4a: The scolex of Oochoristica truncata
43 Fig 4b: Mature
proglottid of Oochoristica truncata
.....43
LIST OF PLATES
Plate1a:
Anterior end, female Strongyluris brevicaudata
.
.
...30
Plate1b: Posterior
end, female Strongyluris brevicaudata
..
.40
Plate2a:
Anterior end, male S. brevicaudata ..
41
Plate 2b: Posterior end,
male S. brevicaudata
...41 Plate3a: Anterior end, female
Parapharyngodon awokoyai
..
.
..42 Plate3b: Posterior end, female
Parapharyngodon awokoyai
..
42 Plate4a: Anterior end, female Foleyella
candezei
..
....43 Plate4b: Posterior end, female Foleyella candezei
...
..
.
.43
Plate5a: The scolex of O.
truncata
.
..
....44 Plate5b: A mature proglottid of O. truncata
.
...
..
.
44
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
...
..i
Citification
ii
Dedication
..iii
Acknowledgement
....iv List of Tables
..
v
List of
Figures
vi
Table of
Contents
vii
Abstract
.
viii
Chapter
One: Introduction
..
1
1.1
Aim of the Study
..5
1.2
Objectives of the Study
...5
Chapter
Two: Literature Review
.
...7
2.1
Helminth Parasites of the Rainbow Lizard, Agama
agama
.
.7
2.2
Helminth parasites of A.agama in
Nigeria
..
7
2.3
Helminth parasites of Agamids from other
countries
9
2.3.1 Platyhelminth parasites of
Agamidae
...
9 2.3.2 Nematode parasites of Agamidae
..
.9
2.3.3 Acanthocephalan Parasites of Agamidae
..11
2.4 Helminth
of other species of lizards
..11 2.4.1 Platyhelminth parasites of
Iguanidae
.
11
2.4.2
Platyhelminth parasites of Teiidae
.12
2.5
Nematode Parasites of other species of
Lizards
13
2.5.1 Nematode parasites of Iguanidae
..13 2.5.2 Nematode parasites of Teiidae.
.15
2.5.3 Nematode parasites of Varanidae
.15
2.6
Acanthocephalan parasites of Iguanidae
.
16
Chapter
Three: Materials and Methods
....17
3.1
Study Area
.17
3.2
Collection of
lizards
.
..
...20
3.3
Killing of the lizards
.
.21
3.4
Sex determination
.
21
3.5
Examination of lizards for infestation by gut
helminth parasites
22
3.6
Identification of parasites
.23
3.7
Statistical Test
.
...24
Chapter
Four: Results
.
25
4.1
Prevalence of helminth endoparasites in Agama
agama
in
Nsugbe
25
4.2 Prevalence
of helminth endoparasites in Agama agama in
Nsugbe by age of host
.
26
4.3
Prevalence of different species of
endoparasites in Agama
agama in Nsugbe
.
.27
4.4
Prevalence of different species of helminth
endoparasites
in
Agama agama in Nsugbe by sex of
host
.29
4.5 Prevalence
of different species of helminth endoparasites in Agama agama
in Nsugbe, by age
..32
4.6 Concomitant
infections involving different species of helminth endoparasites in Agama agama in Nsugbe
.35
4.7
Microhabitat of helminth endoparasite of Agama
agama
.37
4.8
Food of Agama agama
in Nsugbe
..38
4.9 Pathological
effects of helminth endoparasites in Agama agama in
Nsugbe
39
Chapter
Five: Discussion
.
.45
References
..54
Appendix
...
..60
Abstract
Two hundred and fifty
(250) Agama agama comprising of 160 males and
90 females caught in the wild were examined for infestation by parasites
between August and November 2008. Three species of nematodes namely
Strongyluris
brevicaudata, Parapharyngodon awokoyai and
Foleyella candezei and one specie of cestode, Oochoristica truncata were
recovered from the lizards. S. brevicaudata had the highest prevalence
of infection (85.60%), followed by P. awokoyai (55.60%), O. truncata
(6.80%) and then
F.
candezei(2.00%). Male lizards had higher prevalence
(86.87%) than female lizards (86.66%), although statistically, the
difference was not significant (P = 0.05). Likewise, the adults had higher
prevalence (94.76%) than the juveniles (57.62%) with no significant difference
recorded (P = 0.05). F.candezei and O. truncata were not
recovered from juvenile lizards. Prevalence of S. brevicaudata was
higher in male lizards (86.25%) while prevalence of P. awokoyai. F. candezei
and O. truncata were higher in female with 61.11%, 2.22% and 7.78%
respectively at (p<0.05).The most frequent two species concomitant infection
involved S. brevicaudata and P. awokoyai while the most
frequent three species concomitant infection involved S.
brevicaudata, P. awokoyai and O . truncata. Parasite abundance and their
preferred sites/ location within the host were obtained. The rectum was the
preferred site for S. brevicaudata (98.95%) and P. awokoyai
(99.85%), the intestine was the preferred site for O. truncata
(89.04%) while F. candezei (76.19%)
preferred the body cavity. S. brevicaudata, P.awokoyai and F.candezei
are reported from South East Nigeria for the first time.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Agama
agama, is a common and
conspicuous reptile throughout tropical Africa, and was first described
by Linnaeus (1758) under the name Lacerta agama. Daudin (1830) named it Agama
colonorum, unaware that this Lizard belonged to the same species as
Linnaeuss specimen, but Anderson (1900) realized the relationship between
Linnaeuss and Daudins specimens and changed the name to Agama agama. The title Rainbow lizard used by Lowes
(1954) seems particularly apt for such a colourful animal, and, in the
absence of any other, might be accepted as the common English name (Harris,
1964).
The
Rainbow lizard can be regarded as a typical member of Family Agamidae. This
large family of lizards is well represented in Africa, Asia and Australia, and
just penetrated into South-East Europe. Its members are diverse in their,
external appearance, but underlying this diversity, there is a remarkable
uniformity of anatomical structure, which is well illustrated in the genus Agama
(Harris, 1963).
Agama
agama is characterized by
its whitish underside, buff brown back limbs and tail with a slightly
lighter stripe down the middle and six to seven dark patches to the side of
this stripe. There is some sexual dimorphism. The subordinate males, females,
and adolescents posses an olive green head. A blue body, yellow tail and head
characterize the dominant male. (Harris, 1964)
Agama agama
has a large head separated from the body, a
long tail, well-developed external ear openings and eyelids. It has
acrodont teeth (that is, having the teeth fixed on top of the Jaw ridge) and
homodont teeth (that is, having teeth all of the same shape). The lizard
possesses both caniniform, incisors for grasping and molariform cheek teeth for
crushing.
The
maximum size for male lizards is twenty-five centimeters and for female lizards
is twenty centimeters (Harris, 1964). The species is widely distributed, and is
tolerant of a considerable range of climatic conditions. It is to be found in
such widely different environments as the humid mangrove swamps and the arid
Sahara Desert. Eleven
subspecies have been
recorded, mostly from East Africa (Harris, 1963). Rainbow Lizards can occupy
urban, suburban and wild areas that supply enough vegetation for reproduction
and insects for food.
Agama
agama is primarily insectivorous
although it is known to eat small mammals, small reptiles, and
vegetation such as flowers, grasses and fruits. The diet consists of mainly
ants (intermediate host of helminths), grasshoppers, beetles and termites
(Harris, 1964), which makes it a veritable natural pest control agent. A.
agama is a sit and wait predator (Crews et al., 1983). Hunting by
vision, it sits in vegetation, under a rock outcropping, or in the shade and
waits until an insect or small mammal walks by and then will chase the prey.
They catch their prey by using a tongue with a tip covered by mucous glands;
this aids the lizard in holding onto small prey such as ants and termites.
Agama
agama has been reported to
serve as transport and reservoir host to several protozoan (Haemogregarina
sp, Plasmodium and Eimeria oocysts) and helminth parasites (Wekhe
and Olayinka, 1999). In Nigeria, according to the investigations carried out by
Babero
and Okpala (1962) and
Wekhe and Olayinka (1999), some parasites such as Lecudina, a gregarinid
protozoan pose a risk to man, who can act as intermediate host. Man can be
infected with Raillietiella sp (a pentastomid) by having their hands
contaminated with the faeces or saliva of the reptile and accidentally
ingesting the eggs. Handling faecal contaminated water, dishes, and other
equipment may also result in accidental transmission. Agama agama is therefore in addition to its role as a natural
pest control agent, a potential source of zoonosis.
Although the role of A.agama
in the control of agricultural and domestic arthropod pests has not been
evaluated, every day observation in nature indicates that its role in these
areas could be substantial.
Agama
agama is also an important
item in the food chain of carnivorous vertebrates, notably some birds of
prey and snakes. Some species of hawks appear to feed exclusively on the lizard
and show amazing dexterity in picking up the reptile. Thus, the niche of Agama
agama in the agro-ecosystem is multidimensional
and its role in the balance of nature significant.
There
is a general paucity of information on helminth parasites of lizards in Africa,
which makes clear understanding of the relationship between such parasites and
their hosts difficult. There is therefore need to intensify studies in
different aspects of the biology and ecology of African lizards, including A.agama.
This study is an effort in that direction and is aimed at providing baseline
data on helminth endoparasites of
A.agama in Nsugbe,
Anambra State.
1.1
Aim of the Study
To provide baseline
data on Helminth endoparasite of Agama agama in
Nsugbe , Anambra State.
1.2
Objectives of the Study
The
objectives of the study includes:
1. To
ascertain the helminth endoparasites of Agama agama
in 3-3 area of Nsugbe, Anambra State.
2. To
ascertain the prevalence and abundance of the parasites in the lizard.
3. To
ascertain the microhabitat of the helminth endoparasites in sites within the
lizard.
4.
To ascertain the food of Agama agama in Nsugbe.
5. To
ascertain the relationship between the age, and sex of Agama agama and infestation by helminth endoparasites.
6. To
ascertain any pathological effect of helminth endoparasites on Agama agama in Nsugbe.
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