AN INVESTIGATION INTO PARASITES OF THE AFRICAN GRAND PANGOLINS Manis temminckii (AKABO in IGBO LANGAGE) AYAMELUM L.G.A. OF ANAMBRA SOUTH EASTEN NIGERIA

Okonkwo V. O. ^1*, and Okaka C. E.²

¹Department of Biology, Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, P.M.B 1734 Onitsha, Anambra State Nigeria.

²Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted December 14, 2018

A preliminary survey was conducted into the parasites of African grand pangolin Manis temminckii in Anambra State Nigeria. The pangolins were purchased alive in four locations in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, where bush meat are sold as a good source of protein and for medicinal purposes to native doctors. Six pangolins were examined for parasite infection and a prevalence of 100% with endo-parasite the cestode (Metadavainae sp) and the Nematode (Parastrongyloide sp). Overall prevalence of ectoparasite 83.33% was observed with the entire male infected and 1 female out of the 2 examined was not infected with the ectoparasite but had the cestode species and nematode parasite. The overall result of the six pangolins examined showed that the parasite recovered consisted of two species of ixodide hard tick ectoparasits Amblyomma sp and Rhipicephalus sp. The cestode Metadavainea sp (tapeworm) was the most prevalent with an occurrence rate of 37.82% and 22 mean parasite intensity, while the hard tick ixodide Rhiphicephalus sp recorded the least occurrence of 1.72% and mean parasite intensity of 1. The second endo-parasite recovered from the 6 pangolins examined was the nematode Parastrongyloides sp which recorded 36.39% prevalence and 21.17 mean parasite intensity. The prevalence of ecto-parasite showed that one(1) out of 2 female grand pangolins examined was entirely free from any species of the hard tick recovered in the five others, thereby presenting 15.56% parasite occurrence and 7 mean parasite intensity.

Key words: Parasite, African grand pangolin, Anambra State, Nigeria.

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