Ectoparasite Infestations among Domestic Rats (Rattus Rattus) and their Zoonotic Implications in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Résumé fourni par la source

Rodents survive and proliferate in close association with humans in households, agricultural and commercial places, with approximately 2,277 species, out of which 217 have been identified as reservoirs for zoonotic infections. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of ectoparasites infestations among domestic rats (Rattus rattus) and zoonotic implications within Kano Metropolis. A live trapping system was used to capture domestic rats from residential houses of Kano metropolis. Ectoparasites were collected by combing the fur on to a white plain sheet of paper. Out of the 400 rats examined, 271 (67.8%) of rats were infested with at least a single ectoparasite. Ticks had the highest (23.1%) prevalence of ectoparasites among rats while Bugs had the lowest prevalence with 5.0%. Fagge Local Government Area recorded the highest prevalence of ectoparasites among rats (81.3%) while the least prevalence (54.8%) occurred in Kano Municipal Council. Statistically, there is no significant difference in the prevalence of ectoparasites based on location (X2= 0.31645, P>0.05). Fleas and Ticks, were the most prevalent ectoparasites, with prevalence of (29.2%) and (26.4%) in Fagge and Dala Local Government Areas respectively, while the lowest prevalence was exhibited by bugs with a prevalence of (0.0%) in Kano Municipal, Nassarawa, Ungoggo and Kumbotso Local Government Areas respectively. Multiple infections with various ectoparasites also occur among the rats and this was not found to be significant (X2= 2.40434, P˃ 0.05). The study shows a great association between domestic rat population and spread of parasitic diseases in the study area. The study calls for the use of rodenticides and awareness campaign to reduce human exposure to rats. Further molecular and immunological investigations are also encouraged, for better understanding of cross-transmission of zoonotic pathogens and development of effective control strategies.

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