ABSTRACT

Hinge back tortoises (Genus: Kinixys) are moderately sized easily distinguished reptiles in the order Testudines with eight fully recognized species that are endemic to Africa. They are sexually dimorphic, omnivorous, long lived creatures with the characteristic hinge on their carapace. Their global population is gradually declining and has been attributed to various factors including hunting and deforestation. This study was aimed at investigating the species found in the derived savannah region of Edo state, Nigeria and their internal and external parasite fauna. In this study, six parasitc genera were found including five endoparasites (Amplicaecum africanum, Africana africana, Atractis dactyluris, Labiduris africana and a Rhabdias sp.) and one ectoparasite (Amblyomma sp.). There was no relationship between the endoparasite burden and the sex of the host while the ectoparasites were more abundant on the males than in the females. There were many records of mixed infection and many records of high species abundance of the parasites in some hosts. The most parasitized organ was the large intestine. The most prevalent helminth was A. africana (80%) and the least prevalent was L. africana (4%). A. africana was also the most prevalent in male hosts and in hosts obtained from Agbede market, while A. africanum was the most prevalent in female hosts and in hosts from Ivue market.