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Greener Journal of Biological Sciences Vol. 11(1), pp. 21-29, 2021 ISSN: 2276-7762 Copyright ©2021, the copyright of this article is
retained by the author(s) |
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Ecto, Endo and Hemoparasites
of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) Found at Mgbuoshimini
Rumueme Abattoir, Port Harcourt
*
Department of Animal and Environmental
Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
INTRODUCTION
Cattle egrets are free range migratory birds with widespread distribution. They feed on
arthropods such as ticks, grasshoppers, crickets and flies (Seedikkoya
et al., 2005) and they scavenge on
dead crustaceans and fish in the aquatic environment, lizards and other small
land reptiles, rodents and vegetable matter (Martinez and Motis,
1992). They are seen moving around with cattle, picking insect pests from their
bodies as a form of symbiotic association although they have been implicated in
the spread of infectious diseases such as heart-water, infectious bursal disease and Newcastle disease by virtue of the
arthropod vectors they prey on (Fagbohun et al., 2000a, b).
Wild birds such as Bubulcus ibis are carriers of ectoparasites such as lice, ticks, fleas and mites (Salah-Eldein et al.,
2015), which are obligate ectoparasites. Wild birds
are commonly parasitized by three (3) groups of helminthes namely; nematodes
(round worms), cestodes (tape worms) and trematodes (flukes) (Matur et al., 2010). They are also infected by
haemosporidians including Haemoproteus sp., Plasmodium sp. and Leucocytozoon sp. (Omonona et al.,
2014).Biting midges, black flies and lice transmit Haemoproteus sp. and Leucocytozoon sp.
while culicine mosquitoes transmit Plasmodium sp. (Bukauskaite
et al., 2015). The impacts of these
parasites on wild birds are often very severe leading to poor growth and
vulnerability to other infections and high mortality rate (Mushattat,
2017). Such conditions are associated with symptoms like diarrhea, intestinal
obstruction, loss of appetite, anemia, weakness, paralysis and poor feathering
in birds (Uhuo et
al., 2013). The invasion of Bubulcus ibis to
residential urban areas is of great interest to ecologists and parasitologists as they now co-inhabit with man thereby
increasing risks of disease transmission.
There is paucity of
research on the parasites of Bubulcus ibis in
Nigeria. The only published research found were those of Omonona
et al. (2014) and Adediran
et al.(2015) both at the University
of Ibadan. This work therefore, aims at providing more reference data on the ectoparasites, haemoparasites and
intestinal helminth parasites of these birds found in
southern Nigeria. Here, we report on the prevalence of the parasites
encountered in birds from Mgbuoshimini Rumueme Abattoir, as well as their potential for zoonosis.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Description
of Study Location
The
birds are usually found scavenging on pieces of flesh at the abattoir which empties
into Elechi Creek.
Capture method
Samples were collected using improvised hooks embedded with meat
crumbs as a bait to trap the birds before transporting them to the laboratory
for analysis. The
birds were euthanized by severing the cervical vertebrae.
Examination
of Birds for Parasites
Ectoparasites
With the aid of bristle brushes, ectoparasites were dislodged carefully from the head, neck,
wings and leg regions onto white sheets of paper. All detected ectoparasites were picked up with forceps and transferred
into a universal plain bottle containing 10% formalin for identification. Each ectoparasite was then affixed onto a glass slide and a
cover slip to be viewed under the light microscope (x4 and x 10 objective lens)
and identified using a guide by Soulsby (1982).
Blood collection for hemoparasites
By means of brachial venipuncture, 2 ml of blood samples were
collected from the birds (Llgunas et al., 2019). The blood sample was transferred into Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) bottles to prevent
blood clot and processed immediately in the Parasitology Laboratory, Department
of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, to
prevent haemolysis and errors in analysis.
Endo-parasites
The birds were also dissected to expose the
internal structures and specific organs like the liver and intestines were excised
and teased out to remove endo-parasitic helminthes. Nematodes were teased out and stretched using
hot water before storage in universal sample bottles containing 70% ethanol for later
identification using keys from Soulsby (1982).The
prevalence and mean intensity of infection were computed after Bush et al. (1997).
Hematological parameters
The hematological parameter taken into consideration in this study was
the quantitative evaluation of the packed cell volume (PCV). This gave an
insight into the well-being and health condition of the birds. PCV was done
with the use of heparinized capillary tubes containing the blood samples; a sealant
was used to seal an end and then placed in microhaematocrit
centrifuge for spinning at 6000rpm for 3mins. The capillary tubes were then
placed on a haematocrit reader and determined in
percentage values. The normal reference range for avian packed cell volume
ranges between 40 and 60% (Sakas, 2002).
Blood Smear Preparation
Blood smears and wet mounts were made for each specimen and
stained using Giemsa stain (Valkiūnas et al., 2016) and viewed
under the light microscope at
100× for haemoparasite
identification using the
morphological characteristics of
the different parasites as
the basis for differentiation (Omonona
et al., 2014).
Statistical Analysis
Student t-tests were used to test for significant differences in
the prevalence of male and female birds. Prevalence and mean intensity of
infection were computed using Microsoft Excel.
Ethical Approval
This research was approved by the Academic Board of the Department
of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt,
Nigeria.
RESULTS
Parasite
Prevalence
Five ecto-parasites
(namely, Menopon gallinae, Chelopistes meleagridis, Columbicola columbae,
Biting Midge and an unidentified ant) were recovered from the birds. Tetrameres sp.
was the endo-parasitic helminth
found infecting the birds, while the hemoparasites
were Haemoproteus,
Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon species. Photomicrographs of the parasites are shown in Plates
1-10.Hemoparasites were more prevalent than both endo-
and ecto-parasites (Figure 1).Plasmodium sp. had the highest prevalenceof77.8%, followed by Leucocytozoon sp. 55.6%, Haemoproteus sp. and Chelopistes meleagridis
with 33.3% prevalence each; Tetrameres sp. and Biting midge had same prevalence of 22.2% while Columbicola columbae, Menopon gallinae and the ant had the lowest prevalence of 11.1%(Table 1).
Table 1: Prevalence
of Ecto, Endo and Haemoparasite
species in Bubulcus ibis of Mgbuoshimini
Rumueme Abattoir, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
|
Parasites |
Species |
Prevalence
(%) |
Mean
Intensity (±stdev) |
|
Ectoparasites |
Menopon gallinae |
11.1 |
10.0±0.0 |
|
Chelopistes meleagridis |
33.3 |
1.5±0.6 |
|
|
|
Columbicola columbae |
11.1 |
1.0±0.0 |
|
|
Biting
midge |
22.2 |
1.0±0.0 |
|
|
Unidentified Ant |
11.1 |
1.0±0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Endoparasites |
Tetrameres sp |
22.2 |
2.5±2.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haemoparasites |
Haemoproteus sp |
33.3 |
1.0±0.0 |
|
Plasmodium
sp |
77.8 |
1.0±0.0 |
|
|
Leucocytozoon sp |
55.6 |
1.0±0.0 |
±stdev standard deviation
With respect to gender, the female cattle
egrets were infected with ecto and endo parasites with percentage prevalence of 80% and 40% as
against 75% and 25% respectively for males. Both gender showed 100% prevalence
for Hemoparasites(Figure 1).Statistics done showed
that there was no significant difference between the parasite infections in
both male and female Bubulcus ibis (P>0.05).
Co-infection was
observed among the birds, there was 33% prevalence of co-infection with ecto, endo and haemoparasites in the cattle egrets.44% prevalence was recorded
for birds co-infected with both ecto and haemoparasites while 20% were infected with only haemoparasites (Figure 2).
Packed cell volume
(PCV) ranged between 36% and 48%. With reference to infection, it was observed
that birds co-infected with ecto and hemoparasites and those infected with only hemoparasites had the highest mean PCV (44%) while birds
infected with all three haemoparasites had the lowest
mean PCV (40%)(Figure 3).
Fig. 1: Gender
Related Prevalence of Ecto, Endo and Haemoparasites in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), Mgbuoshimini Rumueme
Abattoir, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Fig 2: Prevalence of Co-infection in Cattle Egrets
(Bubulcus ibis), Mgbuoshimini
Rumueme Abattoir, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Fig 3: Mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), with
reference to Co-Infection, in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis),
Mgbuoshimini Rumueme
Abattoir, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Plate1: Menopon gallinae (Scale =
0.5mm) Plate 2: Columbicola columbae (Scale=0.5mm)
Plate 3: Haemoproteus sp. (x100) Plate 4: Leucocytozoon sp. (x100)
Plate 5: Tetrameres sp. (Posterior
end) Plate 6: Tetrameres sp. (Anterior end)
Plate 7: Biting midge (Scale=0.5mm) Plate 8: Unidentified ant (Scale=0.5mm)
Plate 9: Chelopistes meleagridis (Scale 0.5mm) Plate 10: Plasmodium sp. (x100)
DISCUSSION
A high
prevalence of haemoparasites isolated in this study
is in line with the findings of Omonona et al. (2014). This could be attributed
to the presence of arthropod vectors of these haemoparasites
such as the biting midges and black flies (Valkiūnas,
2005). On the other hand, endoparasites were rather
of the least prevalence in the abattoir. This could be attributed to the fact
that these birds spend less time in soils where the eggs/immature stages are
found, rather they scavenge around the slaughter ends where there is meat and
excessive blood meal from slaughtered cows.
Ectoparasites were also
found in higher prevalence because the abattoir is classified to be a
relatively dirty environment where these birds co-exist with other birds and
compete for food.
Of all haemoparasites isolated, Plasmodium sp. was of the highest prevalence, followed by Leucocytozoon
sp., with Haemoproteus
sp., having the least prevalence which depicts that there are more vectors for Plasmodium sp. in this location.
Menopon gallinae is an
important external parasite of both domesticated and wild birds in Nigeria. The
high prevalence of ectoparasites found indicates that
the level of irritation and discomfort caused to the birds will affect their
social and behavioral condition (Reed et
al., 2012). A lower prevalence rate of 4.16% was recorded by Amer and El Bashier (1994)
whereas Khattak et
al.(2012) documented a much higher prevalence of 63.63% for ectoparasites. This was also evident in the research
carried out by Del Hoyo et al., 1992, in which it was stated that the gregarious nature of Bubulcus ibis makes them susceptible to
infestations with ectoparasites from other birds.
Columbicola columbae was of a
prevalence of 11.0% in this research. Laku et al.(2018) recorded a higher
prevalence rate of 24%. Chelopistes meleagridis
recorded the highest prevalence of 33%. This is in contrast with the findings
of Laku et al. (2018)
in which a lower prevalence of 8% was recorded. These disparities could be as a
result of differences in the sample locations. Laku et al. (2018) examined pigeons (Columba livia)
sold in markets in Port Harcourt, while this study examined birds from an
abattoir. In this study, unidentified ectoparasites
were also detected which were ants and biting midges.
The precipitation
pattern/trend of the study area provides a good breeding ground for the vectors
of the haemoparasites observed. Furthermore, the
symbiotic relationship between the cattle egrets and cattle depicts that as
they peck on the bodies of the cattle, they pick up different stages of the
lifecycle of the parasites.
Generally, female
birds were found to have slightly more parasite burden than the males.
According to Hamann et al. (2010), certain behavioral patterns between males and
females play significant roles in higher parasitic rates in males. This could
be as a result of contaminated nesting sites whilst the young birds are being
nurtured. Such behavioral pattern is evident in the parental care given to
their young in which the males are given credence to (Sharah
et al., 2008). This is because they
tend to spend time three times more than the females probably because of their
gregariousness or territorial display. Bubulcus ibis are
opportunistic feeders as they take advantage of prey or feeds available at
every point in time.
The relatively normal
mean packed cell volume levels of the birds depicts that they are asymptomatic
carriers of these parasites and thereby serving as a medium for further
transmission to other organisms they come in contact with as they migrate
(Urquhart et al., 1996).
The birds with haemoparasite infections and co-infections with ecto and hemoparasites had the
highest mean PCV of 44% while those that were co-infection with all three
parasite groups had the lowest mean PCV level of 40%. Expatiating further, this
could be as a result of a faster degradation of the red blood cells by the
parasites implicated thereby causing a reduction in the PCV level.
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
The presence of Bubulcus ibis in human dwellings depicts they could be potential carriers
of zoonotic parasites and domesticated birds are at greater risk since these
birds migrate and are not stereotyped with their foraging pattern due to their
opportunistic nature. Due to the near ubiquitous lifestyle of Bubulcus ibis in Mgbuoshimini
Rumueme Abattoir, results from this research shows they
can transmit helminth parasites to other agricultural
livestock as well as human populations as they migrate. It is therefore highly
recommended that further studies be carried out to determine the role these
wild birds play in the disease transmission chain. This will go a long way in the
prevention and control of zoonotic parasites transmitted by birds.
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Cite this Article: Udoye, CC; Ugbomeh,
AP; Robert, B; Amuzie, CC (2021). Ecto, Endo and Hemoparasites of
Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) Found at Mgbuoshimini
Rumueme Abattoir, Port Harcourt. Greener Journal of
Biological Sciences, 11(1): 21-29. |
