Parasites of village house rats (Mastomyx species) in sub-rural areas of Maiduguri, Northeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

All the 188 (100%) village house rats examined harbored one gastro intestinal parasite or the other while 56(29.8%) had ectoparasites.  Endoparasitic prevalence of 19.7% was recorded for Aspicularis while 15.9%, 15.4%, 11.2%, 9.0%, 6.9%, 5.9%, 4.8%, 4.3%, 3.7% and 3.2% were recorded for Hymenolepis, Syphacia, Eimeria, Strongyloides, Nippostrongylus, Angistrongylus, Nematospiroides, Trichuris, Heligmosomoides and Giardia species respectively.  56(29.8%) rats had ectoparasites with 66.1% for lousiness and 33.9% for mites.  A prevalence of 89(47.3%) was also recorded for endo-polyparasitism.  47(25.0%) young rats were infested against 141 (75.0%) adults with gastro intestinal parasites while 105 (55.9%) male rats were infested against 83 (44.2%) females.  Young rats had 13(23.2%) prevalence of infestation with ectoparasites against 43 (76.8%) in adults while male rats had 30 (5.6%) against 26 (46.4%) females.