Parasitic Infections of Some Laboratory Animals in Vom, Plateau State

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1 Journal of Veterinary Advances Parasitic Infections of Some Laboratory Animals in Vom, Plateau State Pam V. A., Golu M., Igeh C. P. and Ashi R. D. J Vet Adv 2013, 3(2): DOI: /jva Online version is available on:

2 ISSN: PAM ET AL. Parasitic Infections of Some Laboratory Animals in Vom, Plateau State Original Article Abstract 1 Pam V. A., 1 Bata S. I., 1 Ogbu K. I., 2 Igeh C. P., 1 Daniel L. N., 4 Hassan A. A., 1 Udokaninyene A. D. and 3 KemzaS. Y. 1 Federal College of Animal Health & Production Technology, NVRI, Vom, Nigeria. 2 Plateau State university,bokkos, Nigeria 3 Department of Parasitology, NVRI, Vom 4 College of Arts, Science and Technology Kurgwi, Nigeria This study investigated the occurrence of Enteric Parasites of Some Laboratory Animals in Vom, Jos South LGA of Plateau State. Ninety faecal samples were collected from the laboratory animals, 30 each from Rabbits, Rats and Mice. Samples were taken to the Parasitology Division of the NVRI, Vom for analysis using salt floatation techniques. Two intestinal parasites were observed with Coccidia spp. having the highest prevalence 29 (96.67%) followed by Taenia spp. having the least occurrence 1(3.33%). The prevalence in relation to age reveals the young Rats and Mice having the highest prevalence of 17(85.00%) and 2(11.76%) respectively. The sex related prevalence showed the highest prevalence in the female Rats 15(78.95%) followed by the male 17(100.00%) rabbit. The least prevalence was seen in the male Rats with 6(54.55%). The present study indicates that laboratory animals in the study area are infected with two parasites. We therefore advice that the personnel working with laboratory animals need to be aware of the risk of parasitic infection. Key words: Parasites, animals, faecal, Coccidia spp., Taenia spp., rabbit. Corresponding author: Federal College of Animal Health & Production Technology, NVRI, Vom, Nigeria. Received on: 02 Feb 2013 Revised on: 16 Feb 2013 Accepted on: 21 Feb 2013 Online Published on:28 Feb J. Vet. Adv., 2013, 3(2):87-91

3 PARASITIC INFECTIONS OF SOME LABORATORY ANIMALS IN Introduction The use of living laboratory animals in experimental biomedical researches has provided knowledge to better understanding physiological and pathological processes in both man and other animals (Ajayi,1977, Ajayi et al.,1978,harcourt- Brown,2002). Experimental results from research on living laboratory animals are affected by environmental and infectious conditions. About 150 to 200 diseases may be transferred from laboratory animals to human (zoonoses) including rat bite fever, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, salmonellosis and hemorrhagic fever as well as various parasitic worms such as Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, Syphacia muris, Syphacia obvelata, Physaloptera, Schistosoma, Trichinella species. Considering the importance of healthy condition of living laboratory animals for research and researchers,periodical monitoring of these animals for evaluation and presence of parasites, viruses, bacteria,fungi and genetic disorders is very important(bobe and Mabela,1997,Fox et al.,2002). Laboratory animal have contributed greatly to our knowledge of biological structure and function and are essential tools in biomedical research and training (Soulsby,1982,Claude et al.,2005). They are used extensively in the safety evaluation of different therapeutic drugs, foods chemicals and in broad variety of biological investigations (Clark et al, 1997), they are also used for the diagnosis of infective diseases, in the production of vaccines and other biological substances of public health and veterinary importance (Williams, 2001). Laboratory animals can get infected by many diseases and results in consequent loss of time, money and research effort. Like other animals kept in captivity, laboratory animals become prime target for parasites infection if appropriate preventive measures are not practiced (Anne, 2009, Manning et al., 1994). Among the commonly used laboratory animals includes rabbits, rat, mice, guinea pig. Enteric parasites are parasites that populate the gastrointestinal tract of animals. They can live throughout the body, but prefer the intestinal wall. These enteric parasites include cestodes, nematodes, trematodes, coccidia,. These enteric parasites causes serious destruction to the laboratory animals as they lead to intestinal perforation, peritonitis enteritis, ulceration, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal distension chronic weight loss and may lead to death (Pratt,1987,Dipeolu and Ajayi,1976). There is a general problem of enteric parasites in livestock production leading to high cost of production and economic loss to the farmers if appropriate preventive measures are not practiced this research work will therefore educate and create awareness to the general public on the prevalence of enteric parasites in laboratory animals to also advice on the effective control measures against the parasites. Materials and Methods Description of Study Area Vom is a rocky Village in Plateau State situated at a height of 1285m above sea level. The nearest town is Bukuru which is about 12.8km away and Jos which is also 24km away both to the north. Because of its altitude and constant wind, Vom has a remarkable cool climate especially during December and January. The wet season extend from late April to the end of September or middle October.Vom has a cool climate condition due to its altitude with its highest point around the shere hill where it stands at 1.766m (5,829ft) above sea level. The coldest period is between Novembers to February with an average mean daily temperature of 18 C. Sample and Sample Size Random sampling was used where every animal was given equal chance of participation. Faecal samples were collected from rabbits, rats and mice.a total of ninety (90) faecal samples were collected from rabbits, mice and rat that is 30 each. This depends on the availability of the laboratory animals in the study area. Sample Collection In cases where samples can not be collected directly through the rectum, the animals were partitioned and freshly dropped faeces were picked immediately they drop and with regards to the sex 88 J. Vet. Adv., 2013, 3(2):87-91

4 PAM ET AL. and age of the animals. The samples were labeled and taken to parasitology laboratory for analysis. Method of Sample Analysis The faecal samples were analysed using floatation techniques as described by (Ochei, 2006). Data collected was expressed as percentage. Results and Discussion Two enteric parasites were encountered in the course of this research; these were Taenia species and Coccidia species. Taenia spp recorded the higher prevalence 21(70.00%) in rats followed by 1(3.33%), the presences of this parasites was not found in mice.the prevalence in regards to the Coccidia parasites reveals high prevalence 29(96.67%) in the rabbits than 3(10.00) in the mice,this parasite was not observed in the rats(table1). The prevalence of enteric parasites based on age reveals higher prevalence in the young, 16(100.00%), 17(85.00%), and 2(11.76), in rabbits, rats and mice respectively as shown in table 2 below. The prevalence of enteric parasites based on sex shows the females recording the higher prevalence, 13(100.00%), 15(78.95) and 2(11.76) in rabbits, rats and mice respectively as shown in table 3 below. Table 1: Prevalence of enteric parasites in the laboratory animals. Rabbit Rats Mice Parasite No. No. No. No. No. No. Examined +Ve (%) Examined +Ve(%) Examined +Ve(%) (Helminths) CESTODES -Taenia spp 30 1(3.33) 30 21(70.00) 30 - (Protozoa) Coccidia spp 30 29(96.67) (10.00) Total 30(100) 21(70.00) 3(10.00) Table 2: Age related prevalence of enteric parasites. Rabbit Rats Mice Age No. No. No. No. No. No. Examined +Ve (%) Examined +Ve(%) Examined +Ve(%) Adult 14 14(100.00) 10 4(40.00) 13 1(7.69) Young 16 16(100.00) 20 17(85.00) 17 2(11.76) Table 3: Sex related prevalence of enteric parasites. Rabbit Rats Mice Sex No. No. No. No. No. No. Examined +Ve (%) Examined +Ve(%) Examined +Ve(%) Male 17 17(100.00) 11 6(54.55) 13 1(7.69) Female 13 13(100.00) 19 15(78.95) 17 2(11.76) The application of laboratory animals that will be total free of pathogens is important especially in schools and research departments were these animals are use for research purposes. Parasitic infections in laboratory animals, even in the absence of clinical signs, may act as an important variable during experimental assays as well as a potential of 89 J. Vet. Adv., 2013, 3(2):87-91 infecting personnel and researchers. In conventional animal facilities, these laboratory animals are frequently infected with parasitic infections or become infected in the laboratories where they are maintained in the course of experiments. We therefore study three laboratory animals with the interest of screening them for intestinal parasites.

5 PARASITIC INFECTIONS OF SOME LABORATORY ANIMALS IN Two enteric parasites were recorded in the course of this research,these were: Coccidia species recorded the highest prevalence of 29(96.67%) in Rabbit.Looking at the distribution of Teania species in the three categories of lab animals screened, highest prevalence 21(70.00%) was reported in the rats followed by 3(16.10%) in the mice the least was recorded in the rabbits with 1(3.33%). This observation agrees with the report of Audu et al, (2008) and Chineme and Ibrahim, (1994) who stated that like other animals kept in captivity, laboratory animals becomes the prime target for parasitic infection if appropriate preventive measures are not practiced.this is an important finding as this parasite is capable of infecting other animals as well as human this also shows the spread of these parasites in colonies of lab animals kept under conventional conditions. The age of the laboratory animals used is a parameter to be considered in the evaluation of existing parasites burdens in these experimental animals (Broon and Legge, 2004). Our study reported higher prevalence in the younger rabbits 16(100.00%) and rats 17(85.00%) than the adults were 14(100.00%) and 14(40.00%) was reported.this agrees with the report of (Pratt,1987) who reported that generally infections occur more in young laboratory animals, since adults seem to be more resistant.we therefore advice that younger laboratory animals should be investigated. Others reinforce the acquired resistance to infection between the 4th and 9th weeks after birth, Cooper,(2008) reported that the age related resistance in some laboratory animals might be associated with an increase of mucus production and to the natural aging physiological process; nevertheless, no specific immune response was detected. It is important to remark that one of the parasite identified (Teania species) has a zoonotic potential and is characteristic of autoinfection and direct cycle contribute to maintain the high prevalence of animal infection in the colonies. Therefore, infected animals are notnrecommended for research use due to the risk of transmission among technicians and researchers who handle the colonies (Chaudhri and Gupta, 2003). The distribution of these parasites in regards to sex reveals high prevalence in the male rabbit 17(100.00%0 follwed by 15(78.95%) in the female rats the least was reported in the female and male mice were 2(11.76%) and 1(7.69%) was reported respectively.infected animals are not indicated for experimental design due to a possible negative influence on experimental results.although most of these infections are subclinical, they are relevant as they are able to affect the animal physiology, leading to changes in immunological, histological, nutritional, biochemical, and haematological parameters, besides affecting susceptibility to other infectious agents as reported by (Ajayi 1977 and Fox et al., 2002). The results of the current study indicate the need for massive investment on laboratory animal science and technology (physical environment, equipment, human resources qualification implementation of strict sanitary barriers and sanitary monitoring) in the animal houses for enhancement of quality of living for laboratory animals for biomedical research and decrease of infection transmission to human as well as other laboratory animals. Furthermore, quarantine programs are also needed for new animals or biological materials. Acknowledgments With special thanks to the staff of parasitology Department, NVRI,Vom for screening the samples. References Ajayi S (1977). Field observation on the African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus) in Southern Nigeria. East Afr.Wldlife J. 15(3): Ajayi S, Tewe O, Faturoti E (1978). Behavioural changes in African giant rats (Cricetomys: water house) under domestication. East Afr. Wldlife J. 16(2): Anne H (2009). Rat lungworm: Parasite brain infection disease turning up in Hawaii and New Orleans, Spread by eating unwashed vegetables. Parasitol. 1: Audu Ra, Mohammed A, Ibrahim Ndg, Moreh Eb (2008). Histopathological studies on Trypanosoma brucei infected African giant rats (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse). Int. J. of Pure and Appl. Sci. 2(3): Bobe L, Mabela M (1997). Incidence of four gastrointestinal parasite worms in-group of Cricetomas, Cricetomys 90 J. Vet. Adv., 2013, 3(2):87-91

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