Parasitic diseases of monkeys in Osun State, Nigeria: A ten-year retrospective study of occurrence, risk factors and coinfection dynamics
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Date
2019
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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abstract
This study profiled the parasitic diseases diagnosed in monkeys that were presented at the
Zonal (Government) Veterinary Clinics at Osogbo, Ilesa, Ede and Ikirun in Osun State over a
ten year period (2006 - 2015). Information retrieved from the databases of the clinics included
the age, gender, date of presentation of the monkey at the clinic as well as the specific
parasitic disease(s) diagnosed. A total of eight parasitic diseases including helminthosis
(83.10%), babesiosis (33.80%), tick infestation (32.39%), lice infestation (16.90%), mange
(15.49%), flea infestation (11.27%), myiasis (4.23%) and trypanosomosis (1.41%) were
diagnosed in monkeys during the period. Age was a common risk factor associated with the
occurrence of the parasitic diseases diagnosed. Approximately 76% of the studied animal
species were cases of multiple parasitic infestations running through age groups, gender and
seasons. Babesiosis was moderately and positively correlated with tick infestation and the
association was significant (P = 0.01; rs = 0.587). Some of the parasitic disease conditions
reported in this study are zoonotic. This study creates awareness on zoonoses and serves as a
referencedocument for veterinarians, medical practitioners, researchers and monkey
owners/handlers. It is therefore recommended that people should exercise caution and
maintain proper hygiene in their relationship with wild captive animals to reduce the risk of
transmission of infections between animals and man. Public education and awareness on the
possible zoonosis from such wild captive animals and the periodic screening and treatment of
such animals and in-contact individuals may be useful in controlling the parasites.
Description
Keywords
Monkeys, Parasitic diseases, Risk factors, Zoonoses, Osun State, Nigeria