HELMINTH PARASITES OF AGAMA AGAMA FROM OKHUMWUN, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

A helminthological survey was carried out from November to December, 2022, in order to determine the helminth parasites of the Agama agama lizards from Okhunmwun, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. This study was conducted as a result of the paucity of information on the helminth parasites of Agama agama from an evolving urban area referred to as Okhunmwun community.  A total of 9 specimens were examined for helminth infections. The results indicated that all the lizards examined were infected with at least one of the  parasites recorded giving an overall prevalence of  100% . The parasites recorded included two nematode species namely: Strongylus brevicaudata and Thelandrus scleratus (found in the small intestine and large intestine/rectum) and a cestode species, Oochoristica sp. (found in the small intestine). Stronglyluris brevicaudata had the highest prevalence among the parasites recorded (88.9%) while the least prevalent parasite was Thelandrus scleratus (22.2%). The intensity of infection was generally low, indicating that urbanization affected negatively, the transmission of parasites among the lizards. This study was a first report of helminth parasites of Agama agama from Okhunmwun community in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Thus, Okhunmwun is a new geographical record for the parasites of Agama agama.   There is the need for more specimens to be examined from this study area over a longer duration in further studies for proper identification of the different Agama species and description of the parasites infecting them which were not recorded in this study.