GASTRO-INTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF THE RED-EYED DOVE STREPTOPELIA SEMITORQUATA RÜPELL, 1837 IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
GASTRO-INTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF THE RED-EYED DOVE STREPTOPELIA SEMITORQUATA RÜPELL, 1837 IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-10
Authors
IBRAHIM, ABDULHAMID BUROUR
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Abstract
Helminthiasis is considered an important problem of wild birds and the status of gastro-intestinal helminths of the Red-eyed dove was unknown. Fifty-one (51) Streptopelia semitorquata were examined for helminths to provide information on their occurrence, prevalence, and species composition in the Zaria area of Kaduna State, Nigeria, between January 2012 and February 2013. The birds were humanely killed and dissected to expose the gastro-intestinal tract. Helminths were recovered and identified. Of these, 27 (52.94%) were infested with one or more of the five species of helminths, comprising only cestodes. These were Raillietina species 1 (40.7%), Aporina species (33.3%), Raillietina species 2 (7.4%), Raillietina species 3 (3.7%) and Fimbriaria species (7.4%). Single infestations were more common (37.25%) than double (11.76%) and triple infestations (3.92%). The mean intensities were 2.4±0.4 for Raillietina species 1, 1.9±0.3 for Aporina species, 1.5±0.5 for Raillietina species 2 and 1.0±0.0 for each of Raillietina species 3 and Fimbriaria species. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the mean intensities of infestation by the different cestodes in male and female birds. Infestation was significantly higher during the wet than in the dry season (P<0.05). Raillietina species 3 and Fimbriaria species are reported for the first time in S. semitorquata from Zaria. The helminths of Streptopelia semitorquata should be further investigated over a longer period of time; comparative studies of S. semitorquata and other columbids should be carried out and more efficient techniques of trapping S. semitorquata should be developed
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) DEGREE IN ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
GASTRO-INTESTINAL HELMINTHS, RED-EYED DOVE, STREPTOPELIA SEMITORQUATA RÜPELL, 1837 IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA