Digenetic trematodes infecting anurans from a derived savanna biotope in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

An investigation of the digenetic trematodes of anurans from Agbede, a location in the derived savanna biotope in Edo state,Nigeria was conducted from August, 2007 to July, 2008. Anuran hosts examined included Sclerophrys maculata, S.regularis, Ptychadena pumilio, P. bibroni, P. oxyrhynchus, Hoplobatrachus occipitalis and Hylarana galamensis. Theanurans were collected using the Visual Acoustic Encounter Survey (VAES) method, dissected and examined for trematodeinfections. A total of 267 anurans were examined of which 33 were infected with an overall prevalence of 12.36%. Seasonalprevalence was 14.88% for the wet season and 8.08% for dry season. The difference in prevalence values was not statisticallysignificant (p >0.05). Four digenetic trematodes, namely, Mesocoelium monodi, an unidentified Mesocoelium sp.,Haematoloechus exoterorchis and an unidentified Haematoloechus sp. Haematoloechus exoterorchis was recovered from H.occipitalis while the unidentified Haematoloechus sp. infected H. occipitalis and Sclerophrys maculata. Mesocoeliummonodi infected only Sclerophrys maculata while the unidentified Mesocoelium sp. was a generalist, infecting five anuranhosts. Sclerophrys maculata is thus a new host record for the genus Haematoloechus in Nigeria. In conclusion, this studyrevealed a low trematode diversity in the anurans of the savanna-mosaic at Agbede. However, anurans from this locationharboured two new trematodes: an unidentified Mesocoelium sp and a Haematolechus sp. Sclerophrys maculata as a newhost record for the genus Haematoloechus in Nigeria. More specimens of the Haematoloechus sp. are needed for themorphological description and molecular characterization of the parasite, to establish its relationship with the cogener inH.occipitalis.
 Keywords: Derived savannah, Anurans, Digenetic trematodes, new host record

Parasitic Nematode Infections of Anurans From a Derived Savanna Biotope in Edo State, Nigeria

“…The latter limitation necessitated the present study to enable a detailed study, carried out over a longer duration. An earlier report dealt with the digenetic trematodes infecting anurans from this study area (Ozemoka and Aisien, 2020). In this paper we report the nematodes parasitizing anurans investigated at Agbede in the derived savannah of Edo State.…”